Biography
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- Imagine you are 21 and your professional debut is in one of the worlds most atmospheric and legendary football venues. A capacity of crowd of over 40,000 will be scrutinizing your every move along with millions watching around the globe. Your mission if you chose to accept is to snuff out the danger posed by some of the world’s most feared goal scoring machines.
- While many can only dream or fantasize about the above for Zeshan Rehman this was reality! This was the Premiership - the world’s best, most talked and watched football league.
When Zeshan Rehman ran out onto Anfield in April 2004, not only did he contain a strikeforce with a combined cost of £20 million, he also made history by becoming the first player of South Asian origin to play in the Premiership. - In the next coming weeks Zesh would lock horns and hold his own against the likes of Alan Shearer, Patrick Kluivert, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry and Jermain Defoe.
- For many in the game Zesh’s performance came as no surprise. As a youngster growing up in Birmingham, kicking a ball a stones throw away from Villa Park, he had always shown the ability and pedigree needed to perform at the highest level.
- At the age of 12 Zesh left his home in the Midlands and traveled to London to pursue his footballing dreams. He received 100% backing from his Pakistani born parents Khalid and Farah. Through hard work and determination Zesh made his way through Fulham’s junior, youth and reserve sides before making his full debut against Liverpool.
- In total Zesh made over 30 appearances for Fulham. His spell at Craven Cottage was sandwiched between loan spells at Norwich and Brighton. He left the club in July 2006. It was not an easy decision, especially given the close working relationships that had been formed with the staff at Fulham. Zesh would not be the player he is today without the guidance he received from Chris Coleman, Steve Kean, Otis Roberts and Watt Nicol in particular.
- From Fulham Zesh moved the short hop down the round to Championship side Queens Park Rangers in August 2006. Meanwhile at international level Zesh’s decision to represent Pakistan rather than England made headlines across the world.
- The British ethnic media in particular along with anti racism figures within football criticized the decision. They argued the move would damage community relations. Zesh had been viewed as the first Asian player to represent England at full international level – after all he had played for the English under 17, 18, 19 and 20 sides. Zesh described the decision to choose Pakistan over England as one of the hardest of his life, but cited that he had to be realistic at the chances of playing internationally for England.
- The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was ecstatic and overjoyed at having secured the services of a player with Premiership experience. Officials at the PFF not only invited Zesh to play but captain Pakistan during the South Asian Football Championships. The tournament was held in Karachi (the birth place of Zesh’s father) in December 2005.
- Zesh was greeted upon arrival at Karachi International Airport by a huge media scrum (the size of which even exceeded the numbers that turn up for the Pakistan cricket team). He was in constant demand by the country’s media and made numerous TV appearances. Such was him impact that over 30,000 spectators attended Pakistan’s group matches. The average gate before Zesh’s arrival was around 5,000.
- With a flexible agreement with the PFF, Zesh’s short-term aim is to make Pakistan a footballing force within South Asia. The long-term aim is to see the team hopefully qualify for a major tournament. His inclusion has had an instant impact and Zesh was pivotal in one of the country’s greatest ever performance. On October 28 2007 Pakistan held the Asian champions Iraq to a 0-0 scoreline.
- Meanwhile, in club football Zesh had gone on to make 50 appearances for Queens Park Rangers a total of over 125 games in all competitions. However it was a turbulent time at Loftus Road (he played under a total of seven different managers in just two years) so when Zesh was given the opportunity to join League Two's Bradford City on loan, he seized it playing 17 games in every position in the back 4 as well as actively participating in community initiatives to encourage intergration. But while this particular move might have seemed like run-of-the-mill stuff worthy of just a line in the sports pages, it actually represented so much more.
- But with the Yorkshire city widely regarded as the Asian capital of Britain, and Zesh the current captain of Pakistan, both Bradford and their new player are hoping that they can bridge a cultural chasm that is potentially robbing clubs of a whole seam of future talent, promoting social cohension and putting bums and seats in the process.
- As one of only five British Asians to be earning a living from playing football in England, the move immediately gave Zesh the honour of being the only Asian to haveplayed in all four professional leagues. But with the Yorkshire city widely regarded as the Asian capital of Britain, and Zesh the current captain of Pakistan, both Bradford and their new player are hoping that they can bridge a cultural chasm that is potentially robbing clubs of a whole seam of future talent, promoting social cohension and putting bums and seats in the process.
- Because of Zesh's standing, not only as a quality footballer, but as a major figurehead in the fight to get more Asians involved in football, Bradford are hoping that Zesh can sit at the centre of an ambitious project to unite the community behind the club in an attempt to return Bradford to where a club of its size and heritage truly belongs. Bradford have a modern 25,000 all-seater stadium and can boast gates of 14,000 every week – unprecedented in League Two.
- But there are major ambitions off the pitch, too, orchestrated by the club's Asian Ambassador, Omar Kahn. “Integration and cohesion,” says Kahn, “that's the whole point of what we're doing at Bradford. It's about using football to integrate people. We want to encourage the local Asian population to become supporters and integrate into mainstream society and having Zesh at the club makes our job that much easier.”
- “The whole project up here really excites me, on and off the pitch,” says Zesh “I've just got a great feeling about the whole thing. Hopefully I can inspire some local Asian people to start coming to games and really feel a a part of the club. I want Asian kids to feel they have someone to look up to. Bradford is a big city with a big Asian population and if I can inspire one or two local kids to go on and make it as professionals I'll know I've made a positive difference to someone's life and that's good enough for me.”
- On the 16 of June 2009 Zesh signed a permanent 2 year deal with Bradford City despite higher division interest and more money. saying, "my gut felling told me to sign for Bradford and Ive absolutely no regrets. Im fortunate enough to have played in all the divisions and and see this as the next step in my journey. Im 25 and still feel the best years are ahead of me."
- He has now played a total of 60 games for the club since initially arriving on loan the previous season. Zesh finished the season playing regularly for new manager Peter Taylor as the team finished uneaten in the last 6 games.
- Upon signing for Bradford Zesh was handed the Club Captaincy and became The Bantams first Asian Captain in the its 107 year history. During the season he successfully captained the side to the clubs longest unbeaten run for 25 years. This lead to praise from Chairman Mark lawn who was quoted as saying, "Zesh is very good at getting players to do stuff. I can see why Stuart gave him the Club captaincy. He does lots with the players off the pitch as well which is important. That breeds team spirit and the supporters respond to that" Zesh played over 40 games during the season scoring three goals. He has now played a total of 60 games for the club since initially arriving on loan the previous season. Zesh finished the season playing regularly for new manager Peter Taylor as the team finished uneaten in the last 6 games.
- Off the pitch Zesh's heavy involvement with community projects on behalf of the club was rewarded wen he was named The PFA Player In The Community at the prestigious awards ceremony at The Grovesenor Hotel In London. Football league awards judge, Sky Sports Peter Beagrie, said of Zesh, "He is a great communicator, leader and role model. He is a national ambassador, comfortable being charged with the job of uniting a multiracial community"
- After making over 70 appearances for Bradford and scoring 3 goals Zesh decided it was time for a "new league, new challenge" . With 10 seasons of professional football in England under his belt Zesh signed a two year deal with Thai Premier League Champions Muangthong United January 2011. Talking about the move Zesh said:
“I met the club officials over the weekend and my gut feeling was to sign. I have been made to feel very welcome by everyone and there is an extremely professional set up, excellent training facilities, 25000 seater stadium and very passionate fans”.
He continued to say,
“I have always wanted to play in Asia. It was time for a new challenge. It will be a huge honour to become Thailand’s first Pakistani International so it’s a good feeling to be part of creating footballing history again”.
Muangthong United are equally delighted to have landed their man after a year long pursuit. The General Manager and Executive Director of the club Ronnarit Suewaja said: “We are absolutely delighted to have finally signed Zesh. We have been monitoring Zesh for a while,since we know that he comes here to win, it suits us perfectly”.“It’s huge for Thai football that a player of his quality and experience will come to play here. When we took over the club 4 years ago we wanted to be successful and have done by winning the Premier League two years in a row. We expect to move the club further year by year and by signing Zesh, proves how ambitious we are. Zesh’s professional approach will be of huge benefit to our club and for the young players to follow”. - After a successful first year in Asia with Thai Champions Muangthong United, helping the team reach the final of the Thailand FA Cup and the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, Zesh headed to new territory in East Asia, signing for Hong Kong Champions Kitchee SC in a deal until May 2013. Zesh made a Total 30 appearances for the Bangkok based side and worked closely with Player Manager and former Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler on and off the pitch in massivley raising the profile of Thai football on the International stage.
Speaking about the move to his new club Zesh said:
“I am looking forward to getting started and taking up this new challenge, Kitchee play a very good style of football and put in decent performance against both Chelsea and Blackburn last year. After meeting with the directors and owners of the club, I was impressed with their ambition and determination to take the club up a level. I want to play my part in helping Kitchee improve, raise the profile of the club and further progress in the AFC Cup
Ken Ng, Kitchee’s president, said: “Kitchee is happy to have secured Zesh as our Asian Foreigner for the upcoming AFC Cup competition. Not only has Zesh played at the highest level in England, he has also demonstrated his leadership and good nature as an individual who share our values.
“We believe that he will make a positive impact at Kitchee and in Hong Kong Football.” - Zesh made his competitive debut for Kitchee SC on the 29th of January 2012 in a narrow 2-1 victory over rivals JC Sun Hei at the Mong Kok Stadium, the supporters and media alike were pleased to see Zesh now plying his trade in Hong Kong as he was met by a media frenzy. The result maintained his teams position on top of the league at the seasons half way point.
- After the game Zesh said,
" I have been fortunate enough to play football in four Countries and it was great to experience the atmosphere and obvious passion for the game here in Hong Kong"
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| Zesh became Bradford City's First Asian Captain in the Clubs 107 year History |
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| The Launch of Foundation included Brendon Batson (FA), Dennis (PFA), Piara Powa (Kick It Out), Omar Khan, Mark Lawn (Chairman), Lut Rahman (associate director), Tom Harveson (The Football League), Yunus Lunat (FA), Otis Roberts (Co Founder of the Foundation) and Gary Stannet MBE (Active Communities) |
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| Zesh Rehman greeting the Kitchee owner Ken Ng and Director of Football Alex Chi-Kwong Chu at the clubs training complex |
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| Zesh being greeted by the fans and media after his first game for Kitchee |
