Morocco names Rachid Taoussi as new national football coach

Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) named Rachid Taoussi on Saturday as the new National football coach to replace Belgian coach Eric Gerets who was sacked following a 2-0 defeat in Mozambique.

Rachid Taoussi, former coach of the MAS of Fez and FAR of Rabat, was named to the surprise of many Moroccans who had expected veteran coach Badou Zaki to be named the new coach.

“The federation expresses its thanks for the four candidates who showed their readiness to lead the national team. The committee decided to name Rachid Taousi as the national coach,” Karim Alem, member of the Moroccan Federation told the press on Saturday.

“The Federation calls upon the other staff to help the new coach to carry on his job professionally”, he added.

Taoussi won a historic triplet with the MAS of Fez, earning the club the African Federation Cup, the African Super Cup, and the Throne Cup.

His predecessor, Gerets, was in charge of Morocco for almost two years. He started well but has come under increasing pressure recently after a series of poor results.

The team suffered a surprise away defeat in the first leg of their final round qualifier in Maputo on Sunday that left them precariously placed with the return match to come next month.

Gerets’s job was the subject of intense media speculation in recent days but discontent had been bubbling for much longer, especially after his highly-fancied side disappointed at the Nations Cup finals in Gabon in January.

Morocco were among the pre-tournament favorites but were eliminated after losing their first two matches.

Gerets, who played in three World Cups, took over in November 2010.

He was hired as a charismatic presence in Morocco’s bid to establish a new team in the wake of their failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and the Nations Cup in the same year.

Gerets, 58, finished with a record of seven wins, six draws and seven defeats.