Coach Walid Regragui, who made history by carrying Morocco to the semi-finals in the World Cup, is the son of an immigrant family like many Africans.
When Regragui made Wydad AC Club the champion of Africa's Champions League, he became known by the nickname 'Guardiola of Morocco' in his country.
Moroccan National Team Coach Walid Regragui likened his team that made history in the 2022 World Cup to "Rocky Balboa". "When you watch Rocky, you want to support Rocky because of his heart and passion. I think we are the Rocky of this World Cup," Regragui said.
Coach Walid Regragui, who carried Morocco to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, continues to make history.
Regragui, like many Africans, is the child of an immigrant family. A football man born in France but of Moroccan nationality. He took over the national team just 3 months before the World Cup. A 47-year-old coach, conceding 1 goal and scoring 5 goals, carried his team to the semi-finals.
Regragui, who played football for 10 years between 1999-2009, played in Toulouse, Ajaccio, Racing, and Dijon in France and Spain. Playing at right-back, Regragui also served as a defender and front libero when needed.
While playing a total of 199 matches for clubs, he scored 6 goals and made 2 assists. Walid Regragui wore the jersey of the Moroccan National Team 44 times and scored once.
Wydad won the Champions League with AC
Regragui took over the team, replacing Vahid Halilhodzic. Regragui had his first experience with the Moroccan National Team in 2012, on the bench. He worked as an assistant teacher for about 1 year. Regragui became head of Morocco's Fus Rabat team in 2014 and worked there for 8 years.
Regragui, who became the technical boss of Qatar's Al-Duhali team in 2020, moved from his country to Wydad AC's club 10 months later. With this team, he managed to win the African Football Confederation Champions League trophy. The title of Champions League title earned him the nickname 'Guardiola of Morocco'.
Second Moroccan coach
Walid Regragui became the number-one manager of the Moroccan National Team in August 2022. He was also recorded as the second Moroccan coach to hold this position after Abdellah Blinda, who coached the team in the 1994 World Cup organized by the United States. Although Regragui took over the team with limited fame, he is now a world-renowned coach. It was noteworthy that he called Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui back to the national team and made them shine.
Summary
WHO IS THE MOROCCO TECHNICAL DIRECTOR?
Walid Regragui, born September 1975, is a Moroccan professional football manager and former player who plays as a defender. He is the head coach of the Moroccan national team. Clubs he has played for include Toulouse, AC Ajaccio, Grenoble and Racing Santander. In the summer of 2009, he moved from Grenoble to the Moroccan side Moghreb Tétouan for his final acting career. After retiring as a player, Regragui started his football coaching career as an assistant for the Moroccan national team in September 2012. His contract was also terminated when head coach Rachid Taoussi was sacked on 1 October 2013. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Morocco moved to the qualifying stage and quarterfinals for the first time since 1986, making Morocco the first Arab country and the fourth African country to qualify for this stage. World Cup competition. Regragui is the first African manager to reach this stage. Morocco then beat Portugal 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals, not only a first for Morocco but also making them the first African and first Arab team to reach the semi-finals.