The club’s signing of Sherzod Temirov and appointment of former Monaco coach Laurent Banide signal major ambitions ahead of the Iraqi Stars League season.
Zakho FC is emerging as one of the most ambitious clubs ahead of the new Iraqi Stars League season after launching a major squad transformation aimed at challenging the country’s traditional football powers.
The northern club has made one of the biggest moves of the summer transfer window by signing Uzbek striker Sherzod Temirov from Erbil FC. Considered one of the best forwards in the Iraqi league, Temirov was the top scorer last season after an outstanding campaign in which he scored 28 goals and provided one assist in 33 appearances.
Temirov’s move represents a major statement from Zakho. The 27-year-old striker had attracted interest from several clubs in Baghdad and central Iraq, but chose to remain in the Kurdistan Region, joining Zakho after a successful season with Erbil.
The club’s ambitions extend beyond strengthening its squad. Zakho has also appointed French coach Laurent Banide as its new manager, bringing European experience and a new level of international recognition to Iraqi football.
The 58-year-old Banide previously managed AS Monaco’s first team, where he led the club in 32 matches and recorded victories over respected French sides including Lyon, Lille, and Marseille. During his time at Monaco, he coached several players who later became international stars, including Yaya Touré, Patrice Evra, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Jan Koller.
After leaving Monaco, Banide continued his coaching career across the Middle East, managing clubs in Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. He has won league titles in both Qatar and Kuwait, and most recently coached English club Oldham Athletic.
The arrival of a former Monaco coach, combined with the signing of one of the Iraqi league’s most prolific goal scorers, has raised expectations that Zakho could become one of the most dangerous teams in the upcoming season.
The new Iraqi Stars League season will begin on July 14, 2026, with the Iraqi Football Federation (IFF) introducing a new schedule in which all league matches will be played on Fridays and Saturdays. The upcoming campaign will also be historic, as five clubs from the Kurdistan Region will participate in the competition for the first time.
Alongside the league, the Iraqi Super Cup will introduce a new format inspired by major European competitions such as Spain and Italy. The tournament, scheduled for December, will feature four teams: last season’s Stars League champions Quwa Al Jawiya, runners-up Shorta, third-placed Erbil, and fourth-placed Al Zawra’a.
Under the new system, Quwa Al Jawiya will face Al Zawra’a, while Shorta will meet Erbil for a place in the final.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Premier League is scheduled to begin in September.
With increased investment, international coaching experience, and stronger representation from Kurdish clubs, the upcoming Iraqi football season is expected to enter a new chapter. Zakho’s aggressive rebuild, led by Temirov’s goals and Banide’s experience, has positioned the club as one of the teams to watch.