Who is the Morocco manager? Walid Regragui profiled after making World Cup history

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Morocco beat Portugal on Saturday evening as Walid Regragui defied the odds to book place in the World Cup semi-finals against France.

Youssef En-Nesyri’s header won it for Morocco, who defended valiantly without star defenders Noussair Mazraoui, Nayef Aguerd and Romain Saiss.

Morocco have now become the first African team to ever reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.

This has been truly incredible from Morocco and they have quickly become everybody’s second team at the World Cup.

There are star names like Hakim Ziyech and Achraf Hakimi, as well as burgeoning talent in Azzedine Ounahi, but the man behind the magic is Walid Regragui.

Who is the Morocco manager? Walid Regragui profiled after World Cup heroics

Morocco manager Regragui has gone from relative unknown to hero of the World Cup.

The 47-year-old did actually turn out for some notable clubs in his playing days though.

After starting with Racing Paris, Regragui – a right back by trade – played for Toulouse, Ajaccio, Racing Santander, Dijon and Grenoble.

Regragui also racked up 45 caps for Morocco before ending his playing career in Morocco with Moghreb Tetouan.

Regragui turned to coaching in 2012, becoming Morocco’s assistant coach under Rachid Taoussi before spending five-and-a-half years in charge of Fath Union Sport in Morocco, securing a league title in 2016.

Al-Duhail in Qatar were then happy to take a punt on Regragui but he took charge of just 20 games, winning 13 whilst claiming the Qatar Stars League title.

Wydad AC handed Regragui a return to Morocco in 2021 and another trophy followed, this time winning the African Champions League.

You would think that Regragui would have been a popular appointment for Morocco then, especially after replacing the rather controversial Vahid Halilhodzic.

Regragui was ridiculously nicknamed ‘avocado head’ by disgruntled Moroccan pundits who didn’t agree with the decision to appoint him.

Regragui only took the job in August, giving him little time to prepare for his World Cup but he has worked absolute wonders.

Morocco have incredibly kept four clean sheets in five World Cup games; the only goal they have conceded was an own goal.

Regragui has become the first African manager to reach a World Cup semi-finals and having pulled off a coaching masterpiece in Qatar, neutrals will be desperate for him to beat France – the country of his birth.