Rabat – Raja Club Athletic have turned to Spanish coach Paco Jémez to lead the team following the departure of Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi.
The 56-year-old is set to take charge of the Casablanca club after Raja opted for him ahead of other candidates, including Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte, according to Le360 Sport.
His appointment marks Jémez’s first head coaching role in Africa and opens a new chapter in a career that has taken him across Spain, Mexico, Iran and England.
A Rayo Vallecano cult hero
Jémez built much of his reputation during his first spell with Rayo Vallecano, where he coached from 2012 to 2016.
Despite working with comparatively limited resources, the Spaniard developed an ambitious style based on possession, aggressive pressing, and attacking football.
Rather than adapting his philosophy to the strength of his opponents, Jémez became known for encouraging his teams to take the game to whoever stood in front of them.
His approach helped Rayo achieve an eighth-place finish in La Liga during the 2012-13 season, one of the club’s best campaigns in the modern era.
A career beyond Spain
Jémez has spent much of his managerial career outside the traditional Spanish coaching circuit.
After Rayo, he took charge of Las Palmas, Granada, Córdoba and Ibiza, while also gaining experience abroad with Mexican side Cruz Azul.
He later moved to Iran, where he coached Tractor, adding another chapter to an increasingly international managerial career.
His most recent experience came in England. In 2026, Jémez joined Nuno Espírito Santo’s coaching staff at West Ham United as a first-team assistant, giving him exposure to the Premier League and another tactical environment before his move to Morocco.
What can Raja expect?
Jémez arrives at Raja with a clear footballing identity. His teams have traditionally prioritized possession, attacking intent and playing on the front foot rather than sitting deep and relying on defensive organization.
That approach could make his appointment particularly intriguing at Raja, where expectations remain high.
His immediate challenge will be to establish his ideas quickly, build a relationship with the squad, and translate his experience across different leagues into results in Moroccan football.
