Meet Walid Regragui, Morocco’s Atlas Lions New Head Coach

Rabat – Moroccan Walid Regragui’s coaching skills and expertise have allowed him to create a name for himself as a distinguished and loved coach among Moroccan football fans, who have expressed their gratitude and great admiration for the coach.

The 47-year-old former Moroccan international was named the new head coach of Morocco’s national football team on Wednesday, weeks after the departure of former coach Vahid Halilhozich. Football fans in Morocco were largely excited about the new coach, expressing hope that he will be a good leader for Morocco’s Atlas Lions at the upcoming World Cup.

For his part, Regragui stressed his commitment to deliver excellent results with the Atlas Lions in the upcoming global tournament. “We will fight hard to make you happy,” he said, vowing to meet the expectations of Moroccan football fans.

Well-established career

Born in 1975 in the French commune of Corbeil-Essonne, Regragui first started his professional career as a football player in 1999. Over the span of his career he played for several French clubs, including Toulouse, AC Ajaccio, Dijon, and Grenoble.

Despite possessing French nationality, Regragui chose to wear the colors of Morocco, establishing a name for himself in his home country. In 2009, he joined Moroccan football club Moghreb Atletico Tetouan, where he concluded his playing career in 2011, at the age of 36.

After retiring as a player, he began his coaching career in 2012 as an assistant coach with Morocco’s national team. But after head coach Rachid Taouissi was dismissed in October 2013, Regragui’s contract was also terminated.

In May 2014, Regragui was appointed as head coach of Moroccan professional football club Fath Union Sport, which he led for six years. During his time with the Rabat-based club, Regragui succeeded to win the Moroccan Cup in 2016 and the Botola Pro – Morocco’s top professional league – in 2016. In January 2020, Regragui left the club by mutual consent.

Regragui then took off for the Gulf region to coach Qatari club Al-Duhail SC, leading the team to win the 23rd AHF Men’s Club League Championship in 2021.

Later that year, the 47-year-old coach returned to Morocco to become the head coach of Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club (WAC). Led by Regragui, the Casablanca-based club won its third African Champions League title as well as the league title for the second year in a row.

Morocco’s beloved coach

After Regragui announced his departure from Wydad Athletic Club in July, Moroccan football fans, saddened by the news, expressed their gratitude for the club’s impressive achievements under his leadership.

The beloved coach succeeded in building strong morale among the squad, as well as reviving WAC’s legacy and former glory in a span of only one year.

In an interview with Moroccan TV channel Arryadia, Regragui said: “WAC deserves to always be at the top of the rankings, that’s why I think it would be more interesting to call on a new coach, who can bring new life to the club.”

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has nominated Regragui for the CAF Awards in the coach of the year category. The event took place in Morocco on July 21.

When Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) announced the departure of Morocco’s head coach Vahid Halilhodzic in August, most Moroccan fans welcomed the news. Many were unsatisfied with the Bosnian-French coach’s decisions, arguing that they were the main reason behind the Atlas Lions’ sub-par performance last season.

Football fans were also quick to nominate the former Wydad coach as a possible replacement for Halihozich, saying that Regragui could adequately prepare the national team for the Qatar World Cup, which will take place between November 20 and December 18.