Crystal Palace's Iqbal appointed Head of Sports Medicine at Arsenal
Dr Zafal Iqbal: Has worked for Tottenham, Liverpool and Crystal Palace
Written by Simon Austin — February 18, 2024
DR ZAFAR IQBAL is leaving Crystal Palace after eight-and-a-half years to become Head of Sports Medicine at Arsenal.
When Gary O’Driscoll left the role with the Gunners last September, there were question marks about who could replace someone with such experience. After all, O’Driscoll had been with the club for almost 15 years and had also been Team Doctor with the British and Irish Lions on two tours.
Iqbal is one of the few practitioners in the game who can compare. He was Academy Doctor and First Team Doctor at Tottenham from 2007 to 2010, before joining Liverpool as their Head of Sports Medicine.
He was with the Reds for a total of five years ahead of his move to Palace in July 2015, again as Head of Sports Medicine. In addition to his club roles, Iqbal is Medical Advisor to the Pakistan Cricket Board and a member of the Premier League’s Football Medical Governance Group.
From 2016 to 2022 he was Chairman of the Premier League Doctors Group. As TGG reported earlier today, Iqbal has been replaced at Crystal Palace by QPR’s Dr Imtiaz Ahmed.
However, his start date at Arsenal has not yet been finalised as he is having to serve out his notice period at Palace.
