Youssouf Hadji Joins Morocco Staff as Second Assistant Coach

Rabat – Morocco’s football federation has confirmed the arrival of former international Youssouf Hadji to the senior national team staff, where he will take on the role of second assistant coach under head coach Mohamed Ouahbi.

Joao Sacramento will continue as first assistant, as the federation shapes its technical team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

A familiar face returns to the national team

For many fans, Hadji’s name still brings back memories of an earlier era of the national team. Boasting 64 caps and 16 goals for Morocco during his international career, he was part of the generation that reached the Africa Cup of Nations final in 2004. 

For that collective journey and his own regularly remarkable individual performances for the Atlas Lions, Hadji remains a respected figure in Moroccan football.

 He spent most of his club years in France, especially at Nancy, where he became an important player and wore the captain’s armband at different times.

Hadji’s appointment to the Atlas Lions coaching staff  builds on his recent work with the federation. He has long been involved with Morocco’s youth teams, including time as head coach of the under-23 team. 

That experience certainly gave him a clear understanding of how things work inside the Atlas Lions off-the-pitch leadership hierarchy, as well as familiarity with younger players who could soon step into the senior squad.

 

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Different profiles, same direction

Sacramento meanwhile brings a different kind of experience. The Portuguese coach has built his career across top European clubs, notably including his tenure at PSG and his formative experience as part of Jose Mourinho’s staff.

He has had decisive roles at Lille, Tottenham, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain, and also spent a short period as head coach of Austrian side LASK. His background adds a more international and tactical layer to the Atlas Lions staff.

This means the World Cup-eying structure around Ouahbi now feels balanced. Ouahbi himself comes from strong work with Morocco’s youth teams, Sacramento adds experience from top-level football, and Hadji offers the local public-facing pedigree of being an Atlas Lions legend.