Morocco wants to go to the World Cup in Qatar with André Villas-Boas as national coach. According to media from both Portugal and Morocco, talks are already taking place between the national football association (FRMF) and the currently unemployed trainer. The end therefore seems near for Vahid Halilhodzic, who guided Morocco to the World Cup. Partly because of his problematic relationship with Hakim Ziyech and Noussair Mazraoui, the Moroccan federation is looking for a replacement.
Halilhodzic’s position has been the subject of speculation for months. At the beginning of this week, the Moroccan federation felt compelled to publish a statement explaining why Halilhodzic had left the country. There was only talk of leave and the national coach would return to Morocco at the beginning of next week, the message said. However, according to media in Portugal and Morocco, Villas-Boas is ready to take over. He can become the third Portuguese national coach at the World Cup in Qatar after Fernando Santos (Portugal) and Paulo Bento (South Korea). Morocco is in Group F with Belgium, Canada and Croatia.
Villas-Boas has been unemployed since he left Olympique Marseille in February 2021 after a conflict over the club’s transfer policy. He was previously the trainer of FC Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, among others, but has no experience as a national coach. His arrival could once again open the door for Mazraoui and Ziyech, who are now not available for the Morocco national team. Last month, Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Moroccan Football Association, said Ziyech and Mazraoui “will remain Moroccan players.” “Decisions have to be made now to put the national team in the best possible position,” Lekjaa emphasized at the time.
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