SUNDERLAND – In Sunday’s Manchester United game against Sunderland, Marouane Fellaini was picked by Jose Mourinho as the first Muslim captain of the Red Devils squad.
The decision came as both Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney were out of the team.
The game ended 3-0 for Manchester United.
The Belgian national team star Fellaini is a practicing Muslim of Moroccan heritage.
Congratulations to today’s Man Utd Captain @Fellaini on becoming their first ever Muslim captain ?? pic.twitter.com/wTXTSMLxoR
— Muslim Footballers (@TheAMF) April 9, 2017
The Belgian midfielder was born in November 1987. He signed for Everton in 2008, moving to Manchester United in 2013 in a deal worth £27.5 million.
The 194-cm Manchester United Muslim footballer played his first international match between Belgium and Czech Republic in February 2007.
Last August, he was hailed hero after rushing to the aid of a supporter who was crushed during the team’s celebrations.
Fellaini is not the only Muslim player in the squad as Paul Pogba, currently the world’s most expensive player, is also a practicing Muslim.
Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Granit Xhaka (Arsenal), Islam Slimani (Leicester City), Ahmed Musa (Leicester City), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), Yaya Toure (Manchester City) and Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) are some of the prominent Muslim players in the Premier League.