Morocco's 'Professor' coach Mohamed Ouhabi: A patient tactician shaping a new era

Mohamed Ouhabi, affectionately known as "El Profesor," is steadily making his mark as the head coach of Morocco's national football team. The 49-year-old Belgian, a physical education teacher by training, took the helm just three months ago following the departure of Walid Regragui.

Ouhabi, who developed a passion for football during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, brings a tactical approach honed through coaching youth teams at Maccabi Brussels and Anderlecht, where he helped nurture talents like Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans. His coaching philosophy represents a shift from the previous direct, long-ball style favored by his predecessor, which often relied on feeding the ball to striker Youssef En-Nesyri.

The team's recent performance, particularly the draw against Brazil, has been a significant indicator of Ouhabi's influence. For the first time, Morocco fielded eleven players born outside the country, all possessing strong technical abilities. This new approach, combined with the team's overall strong international performances in recent years, has propelled Morocco to a historic sixth place in the live FIFA rankings.

Morocco is now considered a favorite to win their upcoming match against Scotland in Boston. The team's current standing in the rankings, the form of its players, and the lucrative transfers of some of its stars, such as Ismael Saibari's move to Bayern Munich for 55 million euros, underscore the team's growing stature. However, a loss against Scotland would complicate their path to the knockout stages, highlighting the pressure to perform.

"We can do better. We are working on efficiency. Our principles are clear. We need time to do what is required, at the right moment. In this week, we made a lot of progress," Ouhabi stated in a pre-match press conference, indicating his focus on continuous improvement and strategic development.