Morocco head coach Walid Regragui is receiving well-deserved reward on the 2022 World Cup amid an surprising run deep into the knockout stage.
Morocco employed Walid Regragui on the finish of August in a second of turmoil, with a few of their most recognisable stars having pledged to by no means play once more internationally and a tough World Cup group awaiting in lower than three months.
Not solely did Regragui have to regain the religion of his gamers, however he additionally wanted to cope with a skeptical native press that branded him “avocado head” to mock his bald look earlier than he bought the possibility to show himself.
Regragui has achieved greater than any of his critics may have ever imagined, changing into each the primary African and Arab supervisor to achieve a World Cup quarter-final. He defeated Spain and Portugal to advance to Wednesday’s semi-final.
GOAL takes a have a look at the person who has impressed a whole nation together with his crew’s performances.
The place was Morocco coach Walid Regragui born?
He was born in Corbeil-Essonnes, France, however grew up visiting family members in Morocco. He turned a full Morocco worldwide as a participant.
His path is just like many within the 2022 World Cup crew who had been born in different nations however have familial ties to Morocco.
“At this time, we’ve proven that each Moroccan is Moroccan,” he mentioned after the last-16 win over Spain. “When [someone] involves the nationwide crew, once they include their passport, he needs to die, he needs to struggle for his or her nation.
“Because the coach, I used to be born in France, however no person can have my coronary heart for my nation.”
Certainly, a part of his attraction has been his means to unite the nation behind the squad, as evidenced by grand celebrations within the streets of the capital after World Cup wins.
How previous is Morocco’s supervisor?
Regragui is 47 years previous and simply 11 years faraway from his enjoying profession.
The place did Walid Regragui spend his enjoying profession?
Regragui’s most notable stops had been in France and Spain, the place he performed primarily as a full-back at golf equipment equivalent to Toulouse and Racing Santander.
He additionally gathered 45 caps with Morocco’s nationwide crew.
The place did Walid Regragui handle earlier than Morocco?
After spending time as an assistant on Morocco’s workers following his retirement as a participant, he labored his approach up via the ranks in African and Arab soccer, teaching at FUS, Al-Duhail and Wydad AC.
Regragui’s success on the latter membership, the place he received the CAF Champions League, drew the eye of Morocco’s worldwide crew.
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How did Walid Regragui get the Morocco job?
With predecessor Vahid Halidhodzic’s scenario changing into untenable this 12 months amid strife with gamers and his federation that led Hakim Ziyech to give up Morocco, the nation sacked Halilhodzic in August.
Moderately than rent a coach of European first rate, as has traditionally occurred typically with groups from Africa on the World Cup, Morocco selected Regragui with hopes his defence-first type may translate to success on the event.
Regardless of a bunch that included Croatia, Belgium and an upstart Canadian crew, Regragui by no means confirmed concern.
“I feel Africans can go far, why not dream of successful the cup?” he instructed reporters early within the competitors. “We would like the following technology to dare to dream.”
What’s Walid Regragui’s tactical type with Morocco?
He’s unapologetic about his emphasis on being strong within the again, after which worrying about getting ahead on the counter-attack as wanted. With attackers who’ve the aptitude to create possibilities out of nothing, it is a technique that has reaped big rewards.
Morocco have allowed only one purpose from open play in Qatar – and that was an personal purpose.
“A whole lot of Europeans have criticised our type of play however that’s as a result of they don’t prefer to see an African crew play cleverly,” he mentioned at a press convention. “They assume African groups was once enjoyable however get knocked out. However these days are over now. There isn’t only one approach of successful.
“Take a look at France in opposition to England, they didn’t create 40 alternatives, they had been simply efficient. I don’t actually care about anticipated objectives or possession. We had 0.01 % probability of successful the World Cup on the outset, now we’ve 0.03 however we’re going to try to destroy statistics.”
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How has Walid Regragui been so profitable with Morocco?
The coach’s techniques have been spectacular, however his man administration has been pointed to above all else as the rationale Morocco play such cohesive soccer below a boss who joined just a few months in the past.
The way in which the gamers raise him within the air after every upset victory underlines his dressing room reputation.
“I feel he has proven that he’s one of the best supervisor at this event, not simply as a coach however as a person,” mentioned midfielder Ilias Chair. “Each time you’ve got an issue, we, the gamers, can go to him. At that second he’s our dad or our huge brother, not only a coach.”