Rabat – Morocco’s soccer federation has confirmed the arrival of former worldwide Youssouf Hadji to the senior nationwide staff employees, the place he’ll tackle the position of second assistant coach beneath head coach Mohamed Ouahbi.
Joao Sacramento will proceed as first assistant, as the federation shapes its technical staff forward of the 2026 World Cup.
A well-known face returns to the nationwide staff
For many followers, Hadji’s identify nonetheless brings again recollections of an earlier period of the nationwide staff. Boasting 64 caps and 16 targets for Morocco throughout his worldwide profession, he was a part of the era that reached the Africa Cup of Nations closing in 2004.
For that collective journey and his personal repeatedly outstanding particular person performances for the Atlas Lions, Hadji stays a revered determine in Moroccan soccer.
He spent most of his membership years in France, particularly at Nancy, the place he turned an essential participant and wore the captain’s armband at totally different occasions.
Hadji’s appointment to the Atlas Lions teaching employees builds on his current work with the federation. He has lengthy been concerned with Morocco’s youth groups, together with time as head coach of the under-23 staff.
That expertise definitely gave him a transparent understanding of how issues work contained in the Atlas Lions off-the-pitch management hierarchy, as nicely as familiarity with youthful gamers who may quickly step into the senior squad.
Different profiles, identical course
Sacramento in the meantime brings a unique sort of expertise. The Portuguese coach has constructed his profession throughout prime European golf equipment, notably together with his tenure at PSG and his formative expertise as a part of Jose Mourinho’s employees.
He has had decisive roles at Lille, Tottenham, Roma and Paris Saint-Germain, and likewise spent a brief interval as head coach of Austrian aspect LASK. His background provides a extra worldwide and tactical layer to the Atlas Lions employees.
This means the World Cup-eying construction round Ouahbi now feels balanced. Ouahbi himself comes from robust work with Morocco’s youth groups, Sacramento provides expertise from top-level soccer, and Hadji provides the native public-facing pedigree of being an Atlas Lions legend.
