Doha – Former Moroccan international defender Mohcine Bouhlal passed away on Saturday in Rabat at the age of 54, following a prolonged illness.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced his death, with Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa and the Executive Committee extending their condolences to Bouhlal’s family and the broader Moroccan football community.
Football associations and fans across Morocco have shared tributes to Bouhlal, who was part of Morocco’s Olympic team between 1990-1996.
Born on April 22, 1970, Bouhlal began his football career at Union Touarga before joining AS FAR (Royal Armed Forces) in the 1988-89 season, wearing the Rabat club’s colors ever since.
During his tenure with AS FAR, he secured the Moroccan championship in 1989 and claimed the Throne Cup in the 1998-99 season. He also reached the Throne Cup finals three times, in 1990, 1996, and 1998.
Bouhlal represented Morocco’s national team 38 times during the 1990s. His international career included appearances at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal, where he formed a notable defensive partnership with Noureddine Naybet.
He participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Mediterranean Games, and the qualifying campaigns for both the 1994 World Cup and the 1997 Africa Cup of Nations.
His military club career also saw him compete in the World Military Cup in 1989, 1994, and 1996. He featured in the CAF Cup in 1997 against Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel.
In recent months, Bouhlal underwent treatment at the Military Hospital in Rabat before his passing. During his playing career, he earned recognition for his defensive prowess, with fans nicknaming him “Beckenbauer” after the German football legend.
After retiring as a player, Bouhlal transitioned into coaching, working within AS FAR’s technical department across various age groups.
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