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Rabat – Morocco’s national team coach Walid Regragui was voted the 9th best national team coach in 2023 in a ranking from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
The ranking features a number of household football names including Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni, who was voted as IFFHS World’s Best National Coach 2023, followed by national coach of the French team Didier Deschamps.
This is not the first time that Walid Regragui gains international acclaim for his outstanding leadership in Morocco’s national team, after they finished in fourth place in the 2022 World Cup.
Earlier this month, Regragui won the Coach of the Year Award 2023 from CAF in recognition of the role he played in propelling Morocco’s successful run in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
In January, Regragui ranked as the third-best men’s national coach in the world in a ranking from IFFHS.
“It is the first time in history that an African coach took place on the world podium!” the federation’s website said.
Under his leadership, the Moroccan squad defied all expectations. Their exceptional performance made them the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals in the tournament’s history.
Regragui’s tactical prowess and the team’s performances received international praise, as they managed to clinch fourth place despite suffering from injuries and sickness.
Over the course of the tournament, Regragui also became the first African coach to take charge of a team in the quarter-finals and the semi-finals.
The Atlas Lions took down several giants during their World Cup journey, including Belgium, Spain, and Portugal, before losing 2-0 against France in the semi-finals.
Despite a 2-1 loss against Croatia in the battle for third place, the team’s fourth-place finish remains the best result ever achieved by a Moroccan or Arab team.
Regragui’s team will start the year of 2024 by participating in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they are billed as favorites to go very deep or even win the tournament.
Read Also: Walid Regragui: Moroccan Leader of the Year
