Moroccan Coach Mohamed Ouahbi Rises from Brussels Youth Club to World Cup Quarterfinals

Mohamed Ouahbi began his coaching career over 20 years ago as a young physical education teacher in Brussels, working with children at Maccabi Brussels, a small Jewish amateur club. Despite having no professional playing background, Ouahbi’s methodical and disciplined approach quickly stood out. After six years at Maccabi, he was recruited by Anderlecht’s prestigious youth academy, where he spent nearly two decades developing players and climbing the coaching ranks from youth teams to assistant coach of the senior squad.

During his time at Anderlecht, Ouahbi helped nurture future international stars such as Youri Tielemans, Jeremy Doku, and Dodi Lukebakio. Colleagues praised his ability to build genuine relationships with players and his obsessive attention to detail. Despite his success, he never secured a head coaching role with a senior club team. Instead, he briefly served as an assistant coach in Saudi Arabia before accepting a transformative offer from the Moroccan Football Federation in 2022.

Ouahbi started with Morocco’s under-20 team, leading them to a stunning victory over Argentina in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final, a triumph that propelled him to head coach of Morocco’s senior national team. Under his leadership, Morocco reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, delivering impressive performances against top teams like Brazil, the Netherlands, and Scotland. Notably, Ouahbi was the first coach to successfully use FIFA’s green card challenge system during the U-20 World Cup.

His appointment sparked controversy in Morocco due to his early coaching ties to a Jewish club, with some mockingly calling him "the Jew." However, Maccabi Brussels was a multicultural club primarily composed of Muslim youth, and Ouahbi credits his formative years there for shaping his coaching philosophy. His journey from modest beginnings in Brussels to leading one of the world’s best national teams exemplifies a rare and patient rise based on professionalism rather than fame.

Ouahbi’s story highlights the value of steady development and dedication, proving that long, gradual progress can lead to the highest levels of football coaching.