Wydad Athletic Club ( ar, نادي الوداد الرياضي, ) commonly referred to as Wydad AC and known as Wydad, or simply as WAC, is a Moroccan
sports club
A sports club or sporting club, sometimes an athletics club or sports society or sports association, is a group of people formed for the purpose of playing sports.
Sports clubs range from organisations whose members play together, unpaid, and ...
based in
Casablanca. Wydad AC is best known for its professional
football team that competes in
Botola, the top tier of the
Moroccan football league system, they are one of three clubs to have
never been relegated from the top flight.
Founded on 8 May 1937 by seven Moroccans belonging the national movement for independence, led by Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi. They initially focused on
water polo
Water polo is a competitive sport, competitive team sport played in water between two teams of seven players each. The game consists of four quarters in which the teams attempt to score goals by throwing the water polo ball, ball into the oppo ...
to give indigenous Moroccans the right to access swimming pools before Mohamed Ben Lahcen Affani – also known by the nickname of "
Père Jégo" ("Father Jégo") – created the football section in 1939, he was the first manager of the team. The club has traditionally worn a red home kit since inception.
Domestically, Wydad has won a record of 22
Moroccan league titles and 9
Moroccan Throne Cup
The Moroccan Throne Cup or the Throne Cup is a football tournament sponsored by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and brings together Moroccan clubs who play on the knockout system until two teams reach the final match. Unlike the league ch ...
s, becoming the most titled club in Morocco. In continental and international competitions, the club has won three
CAF Champions Leagues, one
African Cup Winners' Cup, one
CAF Super Cup, one
Afro-Asian Club Championship
The Afro-Asian Club Championship, sometimes referred to as the Afro-Asian Cup, was a football competition endorsed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC), contested between the winners of the Africa ...
, one
Mohammed V Trophy
The Mohammed V Cup, also known as Mohammed V Trophy (french: Coupe Mohammed V) was an international football competition in the Kingdom of Morocco held in the cities of Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech.
The trophy was named after King Mohamm ...
, one
Arab Club Champions Cup, one
Arab Super Cup
The Arab Super Cup ( ar, الكأس العربية الممتازة) was an Arab football competition, held between four teams (the winners and runners-up of both the Arab Club Champions Cup and the Arab Cup Winners' Cup) each year.
History
The ...
, three
North African Championship
The North African Championship was a football competition involving the territories of French Algeria, French protectorate of Morocco and French protectorate of Tunisia. It was played between the champions of the Tunisian, the Moroccan footb ...
s and one
North African Cup
The North African Cup was a football competition involving the then French territories of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia from 1930 to 1956. The tournament was contested between the clubs of five leagues, with Morocco and Tunisia contributing one lea ...
.
The Reds shares rivalry with
Raja CA
Raja Club Athletic ( ar, نادي الرجاء الرياضي, Nādī ar-Rajāʾ ar-Riyāḍī, zgh, ⴰⵙⵔⵉⵔ ⵏ ⵕⴰⵊⴰ ⴰⵎⴰⵏⵓⵏ), commonly referred to as Raja CA, Raja Casablanca or simply RCA is a professional footb ...
, named the
Casablanca derby. Wydad also holds rivalry with
AS FAR.
The club also competes in
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective of shooting a basketball (approximately in diameter) through the defender's h ...
,
handball,
field hockey
Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ...
,
cycle sport,
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Sum ...
, and
rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
.
History
Before independence (1935–1955)
Creation and early Wydad (1937–1940)
The origin of the establishment of Wydad Athletic Club on resistance the colonialism that was imposed by the French authorities during the
era of protectorate in Morocco, since before the independence of Morocco, the
port of Casablanca was surrounded by a large number of swimming pools that were dedicated to clubs and sports associations only, and the Europeans were the ones who can supervising them. In beginning of the year 1935, many Moroccan Muslims and Jews joined several clubs to take advantage of the private swimming pools, but they were soon expelled by the colonizer because of their fear of an increase in their numbers later, and from here came the idea of establishing a Moroccan club by Moroccans only, so that the club can benefit of the swimming pools and participate in water polo competitions.
The idea of establishing Wydad Athletic Club was not as easy as it could be imagined, as all the members of the original core, including
Hajj Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi and Hajj Dr. Abdellatif Benjelloun Touimi, suffered from the continued rejection and intransigence of the French authorities to the idea of establishing a “full Moroccan club”, which prompted them to resort to the Franco-Moroccan Association, in order to amend the matters related to registering the club's name, after which the General Resident in Morocco at the time,
Maurice Nogues, personally intervened to allow the establishment of Wydad Athletic Club, but with specific conditions.
Wydad () is an
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
word that means "love", "sincere affection.", during the frequent meetings which led to the creation of the club, one of the founding members arrived late after watching the latest film of the legendary Egyptian actress and singer
Umm Kulthum
Umm Kulthum ( ar, أم كلثوم, , also spelled ''Oum Kalthoum'' in English; born Fatima Ibrahim es-Sayyid el-Beltagi, ar, فاطمة إبراهيم السيد البلتاجي, Fāṭima ʾIbrāhīm es-Sayyid el-Beltāǧī, link=no; 31 Dece ...
with the same name, though
latinized as
Weddad
''Weddad'' ( ar, وداد, lit. “Song of Hope”) is a 1936 Egyptian romantic musical film.
''Weddad'', also transliterated as ''Wydad'', is based on a romantic tale inspired by Omar Khayyam's One Thousand and One Nights. The biggest product ...
, as it coincided with this answer that
Zaghrouda set out from one of the neighboring houses to the meeting place, the attendees were optimistic about it, and
Hajj Mohamed Ben Lahcen Affani expressed his support for choosing this name, but the intervention of some of the attendees led to a postponement for the final decision on the name of the club, except after the presence of a large number of managers and players, as the name was approved after holding a general gathering, the result was the suggestion and choice of the name "Wydad Athletic Club", as a name for the club without the inclusion of the word “Casablanca” because the club represents all Moroccans, not just the residents of the city of Casablanca.
Wydad played its first game against defending champion USM Casablanca as part of the first day of the championship in what is a criterion of war in September 1939. This meeting was the first of Wydad ended in defeat with a score of two goals to one. The first scorer was Abdelkader Lakhmiri. During this first season Wydad it was not a championship that was played but a true test of war called cutting war because of the Second World War. The first edition of this competition was played so in the context of the 1939–40 season and ended with a victory for the USM Casablanca facing the new team what Wydad. One who had played his first match against USM and had also faced rematch is still faced in the final after an incredible journey that has to qualify. The meeting was ended with a score of 1–0 at Stade Philippe to Casablanca. 1939–40: Champion of Chaouia League 1940: Winner of Moroccan Super Cup 1940: Runner-up of Moroccan Cup
The following season was also a criterion of war except that this time Wydad fails the same course as in the previous season. The Reds began the competition in a group comprising a total of nine groups or they managed to skilled in the finals. The final phase started from the quarter-finals where finally, the WAC is beaten by the Olympic Khouribga to score a 1–0. And finally.
1940–41: Runner-up of Chaouia League.
Promotion and Honour Division (1941–1947)
After playing two seasons in cutting the war, the French authorities under the orders of the Vichy regime decided to play the championship again at war. Despite the very good performance of Wydad, the French authorities decided to Wydad play in the second division and not first. One of the main reasons is the fact that the federation at the time was managed by teams of 1st Division. Despite these injustices, Wydad managed to be the first in their pool and in the context of a game between the dam at Ittihad Ribati, he succeeds in beating up the latter by a goal to nil. For fear that Wydad up in the first division, the federation decided to play another game the opponent this time in the Athletic Union of Meknes. This encounter was played behind closed doors in Meknes and during the month of Ramadan. The team was composed meknassis majority of non-Muslims opposed to Wydad. But finally Wydad thanks to a goal from Ben Messaoud to 12 minute first successful rising after receiving a letter from the federation confirming the rise in 1st division.
1941–42: Champion of Moroccan Championship D2
1941–42: Runner-up of Chaouia League.
The next season after winning the championship promotion honor is the 2nd level football league in Morocco and after winning his matches dams, Wydad newly promoted division plays of honor is 'equivalent of first division football league in Morocco. During this season, Wydad had a good run, finishing in the top three of their group to play the final round, which begins from the second round. And after a very good run, Wydad reached the final of the chicken and confronts the USM Casablanca club already encountered in regional chickens. Wydad fails to win his first title in this competition and was beaten on the score of 2–0.
1942–43: Champion of Chaouia League.
1942–43: Runner-up of Moroccan Championship.
During the season 1943–44, the red and white ends the year with a balance of the quarter-finals after several victories, the club face Fedala score on the river 2–0. Also noteworthy during this season package of USM Casablanca. In 1944–45, the club managed the final qualification in the pool but was eliminated by the Association Sportive Marrakech Marrakech often called SAM despite a victory in the second round against the ASM score of 3–0.
The 1945–46 season is one of the best in the club since its inception as Wydad won the regional championship with a total of more than 62 points or 19 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. After winning the title, Wydad qualifies for final round where he was defeated by the USM Casablanca final score of 3–1. Despite this defeat, the balance of the season is rather positive. During the 1946–47 season, the club honors its first participation in the North African Cup but failed to move beyond sixteenth-finals following a defeat club Fedala the most minimal scores a 1–0. In the league, the WAC failed to win the title.
Early titles and independence (1947–1956)
It will take more than nine years for Wydad to finally win its first
championship
In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.
Championship systems
Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship.
Title match system
In this system ...
. In a group of eight clubs, Wydad played fourteen matches, won six, lost two and drawn six. Moroccan Iyad El Baz helped win Wydad's first ever trophy. During the same season Wydad participates in the
North African Championship
The North African Championship was a football competition involving the territories of French Algeria, French protectorate of Morocco and French protectorate of Tunisia. It was played between the champions of the Tunisian, the Moroccan footb ...
with the title won and even managed to win by beating the US Athletic score of 4–2. Wydad also took part in the 1948–49 season of the
North African Championship
The North African Championship was a football competition involving the territories of French Algeria, French protectorate of Morocco and French protectorate of Tunisia. It was played between the champions of the Tunisian, the Moroccan footb ...
, which is a competition organized by the
Union of North African Football
The Union of North African Football (UNAF; ar, اتحاد شمال إفريقيا لكرة القدم, Ittiḥād Shamāl Ifrīqyā li-Kurat al-Qadam; french: Union nord-africaine de football) is an association football organising body. It was l ...
that it is made up of five leagues is that of the
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria t ...
,
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
,
Algiers,
Oran and
Constantine
Constantine most often refers to:
* Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I
*Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria
Constantine may also refer to:
People
* Constantine (name), a masculine given name ...
. The competition began for Wydad in the knockout final against Red Star of Algiers. The match ended in a victory for Wydad AC score of 3–1. Then, in the quarter-finals, he must face the USM Bone or he managed to climb in the semi-finals with a victory on the score of 2–1. Continuing his journey, he must then face the Olympic Hussein Dey, club league Algiers. This meeting was a massacre ending with a victory on the score of 3–0 while the club qualified for the finals is a club and even Casablanca Moroccan who managed to beat the Sports Club Hammam Lif on the modest score of 1–0. this club is in fact the US Athletic. The final was held in Casablanca in 1949, is opposed both clubs are Wydad AC that and the US Athletic and after 90 minutes of play, Wydad won the competition for the first time in its history with a victory on the score of 2–1. During the same season they also managed to win a Championship North African football when editing played as mini-league since it was the team with the most points wins the championship, they also won another championship, so it is the first club which has tripled something which nobody has done throughout history. During the following season Wydad fails to succeed on a hat-trick but doubled. It won the Moroccan championship for the third time in its history and a row with a total of more than 57 points, and won the championship of North African football by beating the Athletic Union Muslim Oran on the score 4–0 in
Algiers on 28 May 1950.
During the 1950–51 season, Wydad continues its momentum by winning the national championship but was beaten in the final of the African Cup North face SC Bel-Abbes on the score 1–0. During the last season played before independence, Wydad won his fifth and last championship title before Moroccan independence. Participating teams in this championship was twelve in number counting Wydad. During the same season, the Reds were beaten in the final of the championship of North Africa to Casablanca in the face of Esperance Sportive de Guelma score of 2–1.
After independence (1956–1960)
Morocco becomes independent, and the WAC receives the honorary Resistance Card with the number 1 by his royal majesty Mohammed V. Before launching the first Moroccan championship for the 1956/57 season, the committee decides to organize a first competition called Independence Cup, and classify the teams in the divisions. This cup is won by Wydad AC which has become the number 1 club in Morocco. The 38th edition of the championship (the first after independence) is won by the WAC (title holder) with the Kawkab of Marrakech as its runner-up. The same season in the cup, Wydad qualified for the final against the Mouloudia Club of Oujda. The match ends with a score of 1–1, King Mohammed V, Crown Prince Hassan II and WAC founder Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi who are present in this final, decide to give the cup to Mouloudia Oujda. because he scored the first goal.
During the following season, the WAC finished vice-champion of Morocco with 69 points, one less than the champion, the Kawkab of Marrakech. The Wydad who was first loses all his points won against the USM Casablanca following the general forfeit of it and also loses in the final of the Morocco Cup against the same opponent of last season on the score of 2 goals to 1.
During the following season, Wydad is still vice-champion behind the Casablanca star while in the Throne Cup, the WAC is eliminated in the round of 16 against the FAR of Rabat, winners of this competition. WAC forward Mustapha Khalfi finished top scorer in Botola with 21 goals.
The following season, Wydad reached fourth place with only one point less than the top three. In the Cup, and after defeating Essaouira with a score of one goal to zero, the WAC was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Mouloudia d'Ouejda.
The 1960s
The first 1960/61 season ended badly with a 7th place in the league, in the cup the WAC was able to climb into the final by defeating the future champion of this season, the FAR of Rabat, on the score of two goals to one. But Wydad has always missed its finals since 1956 and faces last season's champion Kenitra Athletic Club. The Wydad was beaten with the score of a goal to zero on April 24, 1960, at the Stade d'honneur in Casablanca. The following season, the WAC finished 6th in the Botola classification, and was beaten in the eighth finals of the Morocco Cup against Mouloudia d'Ouejda with the score of 2 goals to 0. In the 1962 season / 63, the WAC again finished 6th in Botola, and reached the semi-final of the Morocco Cup eliminated by KAC Marrakech. The following season, WAC was again 6th in Botola, and was a finalist in the Morocco Cup against KAC Marrakech. In the 1964/65 season, the WAC finished in the championship in 5th place, and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Cup.
It was not until the 1965/66 season to see the WAC champion of Morocco for the 7th time, with a total of 57 points. As the team was eliminated in the eighth finals of the Morocco Cup against MAS Fez, it took fifteen years to return to the Moroccan Super Cup against COD Meknès (winner of the Cup). The WAC participated for the first time in its history in the Mohammed V Cup where it finished 4th, after elimination against Real Madrid in the semi-final with the score of 2 goals to 0.
The 1966–67 season ended with a 4th place in the championship, and an elimination in the quarter-final of the Morocco Cup against the sports association of the royal armed forces. The following season the WAC will finish 8th in Botola, and eliminated in the round of 16 of the Cup against the same opponent, the sports association of the royal armed forces.
During the 1968–69 season, the WAC returned to the Botola podium, winning its 8th title of Champion of Morocco with a total of 73 points, including 16 victories, 11 draws and 3 lost matches. But unfortunately, he was eliminated in the second round of the Cup. In June, facing RS Settat (winner of the Morocco Cup), the WAC won its 6th Moroccan Super Cup solved by captain Mohammed Sahraoui.
Finally the Morocco Cup (1970–1979)
We had to wait thirty-one years to see the WAC winner of the Morocco Cup, and it was against RS Settat that the reds won the title with the score of a goal to zero. Compared to the 1960s, the emperor of Moroccan football won three times the Botola and three times the Cup as well as the Mohammed V Cup thanks to legendary players such as
Larbi Aherdane
Larbi Ihardane (born 6 June 1954) is a Moroccan footballer. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 ( ...
,
Ezzaki Badou
Ezzaki Badou ( ar, الزاكي بادو; born 2 April 1959), nicknamed Zaki, is a Moroccan football coach and former professional player who played as a goalkeeper. He manages CS Chebba.
Playing career
Born in Sidi Kacem, Zaki represented AS ...
,
Aziz Bouderbala, Petchou or Abdelmajid Shaita. In the 1969–70 season, Wydad finished 5th at Botola, winner of the Cup. 1970–71: 7th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup. 1971–72: vice-champion of Botola, 1/8 final of the Cup. 1972–73: 9th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup. 1973–74: 5th in Botola, 1/4 final of the cup. 1974–75: 9th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup, winner of the Green Market Cup. 1975–76: Moroccan champion, 9th coronation, 1/8 Cup final. 1976–77: Champion of Morocco, 10th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, 3rd of the Mohammed V Cup. 1977–78: Champion of Morocco, 11th coronation, winner of the 2nd coronation Cup. 1978–79: 3rd at Botola, Cup winner, 3rd coronation, Mohammed V Cup winner.
The revival (1980–1989)
In the first season, the WAC finished runner-up in Morocco with only 1 point difference from the winner, and won the Cup for the second time in its history, and regained the Botola podium for the 12th time in 1986, and participates for the first time in the CAF Champions League, since it is the first Moroccan club to win the Arab Cup of Champions Clubs in 1989 and a 3rd Cup of Morocco in the same year. In the 1979–80: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/8 Cup final, winner of the Meknes International Tournament. 1980–81: 4th at Botola, Winner of the 2nd coronation Cup, winner of the Mohamed Benjelloun Trophy. 1981–82: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/8 final of the Cup.1982–83: 3rd at Botola, 1/8 Cup final, winner of the Independence Tournament. 1983–84: 5th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup. 1984–85: 4th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final. 1985–86: Moroccan champion 12th coronation, 2nd round of the Cup. 1986–87: 4th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup, 2nd round of the Champions League. 1987–88: 4th at Botola, semi-finalist of the Cup, winner of the Pescara International Cup. 1988–89: 5th at Botola, winner of the 3rd coronation Cup, winner of the Arab Cup of Champions Clubs.
Golden Era (1990–1999)
During this decade, the WAC won all possible competitions, with two consecutive victories in Botola, the CAF Champions League, the Arab Super Cup, the 15th coronation of champion of Morocco, the Afro-Asian Super Cup, the 8th Cup of Morocco in its history, twice the Moroccan Supercup in 1995 and 1999: 1989–90: Moroccan champion, 13th coronation, 2nd round of the Cup. 1990–91: Moroccan champion, 14th coronation, 1/4 final of the Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League. 1991–92: 3rd at Botola, 1/8 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Champions League, winner of the Arab Super Cup. 1992–93: finalist of the CAF Supercup, champion of Morocco, 15th coronation, 1/4 Cup final, winner of the Afro-Asian Cup. 1993–94: vice-champion of Morocco, winner of the Cup, 6th coronation, finalist of the African-European Cup, 2nd round of the Champions League. 1994–95: winner of the Moroccan Supercup, 7th coronation, 5th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final. 1995–96: 3rd at Botola, 1/4 Cup final, winner of the Dallas International Cup. 1996–97: vice-champion of Morocco, winner of the Cup, 7th coronation. 1997–98: 3rd at Botola, Cup winner, 8th coronation, Supercup finalist, semi-finalist of the CAF Cup Cup. 1998–99: winner of the Moroccan Supercup, 8th coronation, 5th at Botola, 1/16 Cup final, CAF Cup finalist.
Decline (2000–2014)
During this decade, the Red Devils have won fewer titles than before. It was a bad chapter in the history of the club: 1999–00: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/16 Cup final, 1/8 CAF Cup final. 2000–01: 7th at Botola, winner of the 9th coronation Cup, 1/4 final CAF Cup. 2001–02: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/16 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Cup Cup after defeating
Asante Kotoko S.C.
Asante Kotoko Sporting Club, simply known as Asante Kotoko, is a professional football club founded on 31 August 1935 and based in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Nicknamed the ''Porcupine Warriors'', they compete in the Ghana Premier Lea ...
2002–03: 3rd at Botola, Cup finalist, semi-finalist of the CAF Cup Cup. 2003–04: 3rd at Botola, Cup finalist after a 3–1 loss to
Zamalek SC
Zamalek Sporting Club ( ar, نادي الزمالك للألعاب الرياضية), commonly referred to as Zamalek, is an Egyptian sports club based in Giza. It is one of the most successful football clubs in Africa and the Middle East,
an ...
, intermediate round Confederation Cup. 2004–05: 3rd at Botola, 1/16 Cup final, 1/4 final of the Arab Cup. 2005–06: Moroccan champion 16th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, 1/4 final of the Arab Cup. 2006–07: 4th at Botola, semi-finalist of the Cup, 2nd round of the CAF Champions League. 2007–08: 7th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final, Arab Cup finalist after a 2–0 loss to
ES Sétif
Entente Sportive Sétifienne ( ar, الوفاق الرياضي السطايفي), known as Entente de Sétif, commonly referred to as ES Sétif or ESS for short, is an Algerian professional football club based in Sétif. The club was founded in ...
. 2008–09: 4th at Botola, 1/4 Cup final, Arab Cup finalist after a 2–1 loss to
Espérance Sportive de Tunis
(; ar, الترجي الرياضي التونسي, Attarajī ar-Riyāḍi Attūnisī, link=yes), also known as ''ES Tunis'' and , is a Tunisian sports club based in Bab Souika neighbourhood of Tunis, Tunisia. The club was founded in 1919, thu ...
. : 2009–10: Moroccan champion 17th coronation, 1/16 final of the Cup.
Said Naciri era (2014–present)
First Champions League in 25 years (2017)
From the start of the second decade of the 20th century, the WAC returned to the Botola podium by winning its 17th title, then in 2015, 2017 and 2019, as well as the CAF Champions League in 2017, and the Super Cup of CAF in 2018. 2014–15: Moroccan champion 18th coronation, 1/8 Cup final.2016–17: Moroccan champion 19th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Champions League. 2017–18: vice-champion of Morocco, semi-finalist of the Cup, 1/4 final of the CAF Champions League, 1/8 final of the Arab Cup, winner of the
2018 CAF Super Cup
The 2018 CAF Super Cup (officially the 2018 Total CAF Super Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 26th CAF Super Cup, an annual football match in Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), between the winners of the previous ...
.
Second star and Radès final (2019)
2018–19: Moroccan champion 20th coronation, finalist of the CAF Champions League 2018–19 after a devastating Var problem that gifted
Espérance Sportive de Tunis
(; ar, الترجي الرياضي التونسي, Attarajī ar-Riyāḍi Attūnisī, link=yes), also known as ''ES Tunis'' and , is a Tunisian sports club based in Bab Souika neighbourhood of Tunis, Tunisia. The club was founded in 1919, thu ...
the win. 2019–20: vice-champion of Morocco, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League 2019–20. On 14 July 2021, Wydad defeated
Mouloudia Oujda
Mouloudia Club of Oujda ( ar, مولودية وجدة), commonly abbreviated to MC Oudja, is a Moroccan football club based in Oujda. Mouloudia, which closely translates to "birth" in Arabic, was named after the coincidence of the day of its c ...
0–2 at the
Honneur Stadium to clinch their 21st league title, with three games left in the season, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League 2019–20.
Third Champions League title (2022–present)
One day after the club's 85th anniversary, Wydad defeated
Atlético Petróleos de Luanda 4–2 on aggregate (3–1
away and 1–1 at home) to advance to their 5th
Champions League final and the 3rd one in 6 years. On 30 May 2022, in a rematch of
2017 final, Wydad AC beat defending champions
Al Ahly
AL, Al, Ål or al may stand for:
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Al (''Aladdin'') or Aladdin, the main character in Disney's ''Aladdin'' media
* Al (''EastEnders''), a minor character in the British soap opera
* Al (''Fullmetal ...
in the
final
Final, Finals or The Final may refer to:
* Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event
** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of con ...
to be crowned
champions of Africa for the third time in its history, thanks to a brace from the Man of the Match,
Zouhair El Moutaraji
Zouhair El Moutaraji ( ar, زهير مترجي) (born 1 April 1996) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays for Wydad AC as a winger.
Career
El Moutaraji started his career with Wydad AC at the age of 18 as a replacement for the injured ...
.
During this campaign under
Walid Regrgui role, the Red Castle has achieved many national records in the CAF Champions League: First Moroccan team to win an away semi-final match, most wins for a Moroccan team in a single season (9 wins), most goals scored in a single season (28 goals), and first Moroccan team to go undefeated for 9 straight games in a single season.
With this win, Wydad will play in the first-ever
all-Moroccan CAF Super Cup against
2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup
The 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup (officially the 2021–22 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 19th edition of Africa's secondary club football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF ...
winners,
RS Berkane
Renaissance Sportive de Berkane ( ar, نادي النهضة البركانية) commonly referred to as Nahdat Berkane or RS Berkane for short, is a professional football club based in Berkane, Morocco, that competes in Botola, the top flight o ...
. On 21 July 2022, Wydad was elected as the best
Club of the year in the
2022 CAF Awards
The 2022 CAF Awards was held on 21 July 2022 at Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. ...
.
Crest
Home stadium
Stade Mohammed V is the home stadium of both Wydad and Raja. It was called the ''Stade
Marcel Cerdan
Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan (; 22 July 1916 – 28 October 1949) was a French professional boxer and world middleweight champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to ...
'' from 1955 to 1956 and the ''Stade d'Honneur'' from 1956 to 1981. It was inaugurated on 6 March 1955 and renovated three times in 1981, 2000 and 2007. It is part of a large sports complex in the heart of Casablanca, specifically in the up-scale neighbourhood of Maârif.
It has a capacity of 67,000 spectators (reduced to more than 80,000 in 2000), not counting the North and South stands that have no seats. In 1997, 110,000 spectators showed up to the stadium in a match of the Moroccan national team against
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
. In 2007, the stadium was equipped with a semi-artificial turf which meets international standards.
Supporters
Wydad is one of the most popular teams in Morocco, with a fan base counted in millions all around the world. Wydad's ultras group is called "Winners 2005" and is renowned all over the world for its spectacular displays at each game. The "Winners 2005" was voted "the world's best ultras group in 2015 and 2019 by Ultras World magazine.
Statistics and records
Notable players
This list includes players that have appeared in at least 100 league games and/or have reached international status.
Statistics in Botola
• Largest home win: WAC 7–0 HUSA (1958–59
• Largest away win: RSK 0–6 WAC (1985–86)
• Record number of games won in one season: 23 games in (1985–86)
• Record goals scored in a season: 58 goals (1985–86)
• Record for lowest number of goals conceded: 8 games (2002–03)
• Record of consecutive games won: 9 in (1990–91)
• Record number of most away wins in one season: 14 games (1985–86)
• Record for lowest number of draws: 5 games (1986–87)
• Record goals scored in one season: 56 goals in 30 games in (2018–19) 1.86 goals scored per game
Sports records
• Record for the highest number of titles in the Moroccan Championship: 22
• Record for the highest number of vice-champion titles in the Moroccan Championship: 14
• Record for most titles in Morocco: 44
• Record for most national titles: 31
• Record for most regional titles: 6
• Record for the highest number of consecutive seasons in the Moroccan league: 77
• Only to have never left the championship since 1942
• Most wins record: 1,392
• Record for most goals scored: 2293
• Record for the fewest defeats in the league: 1 (1977–78)
• 2nd highest number of Throne Cup: 9 titles
• Record number of finals in the Throne Cup with 15 editions including 6 lost
Individual sports records
• Largest number of top scorers in the Championship, 14 times with 10 scorers: Chtouki in 1948 and 1955, Abdesslam in 1949, Driss in 1950, Khalfi in 1951 and 1959, Chrif in 1978, Mjidou in 1984, Nader in 1986, 1987 and 1989, Fertout in 1993, Evona in 2015, Jebor in 2017 and Kaabi in 2021.
• Aziz Bouderbala has won the Throne Cup 4 times with Wydad which is a national record
• Moussa Ndao is the first foreigner to score in a 1989 Throne Cup final
• Abdelkhalek the only player to score 3 goals in a 1978 final
Abdelkhalek is the player who scored the most goals in the Throne Cup final
• Nader has finished three times top scorer in the Moroccan championship, he is the recordman with Laghrissi and Anaflous of the FAR, as well as Boussati of the KAC
• Badou Zaki is the only goalkeeper who won the African Ballon d'Or (in 1986).
Nationalistic connotation of the club
Wydad has embodied the struggle of Moroccan people against the French occupation, so much so that in all the soccer fields of Morocco where Wydad played was encouraged by thousands of fans. Unlike other clubs like the Racing Casablanca or the Union Sportive Marocaine (USM), the Wydad was composed mostly of Moroccan footballers (10 Moroccan players out of 11 was the maximum allowed by the regulations) and in some way was considered by the supporters Moroccans, a Moroccan national: through sport and Wydad, the Moroccans could symbolically defeat the occupier. This quality was specific to Wydad and no other Moroccan club can boast this status before independence. The Wydad was the "standard-bearer" of Morocco wherever he played. In a North African Cup game in Algeria, the Moroccan Wydad players refused to play the race because the Moroccan flag was not hoisted next to the French one: the game did not start until the organizers decided to raise the flag of Morocco next to the French tricolor. An anecdote that shows how the sense of the homeland was an important value for Wydad players goes back to those years: a player of Wydad, Abdeslam, during the pre-game match urinated in the direction of the musicians who played the Marseillaise.
The great victories of the Wydad in front of the teams owned by the French protectorate like the USM were experienced as a national holiday by all Moroccans. No coincidence that the crown prince to the throne of the Kingdom of Morocco, Hassan II was the main supporter of the team and did not hesitate, during the end of the first times of the games, to go down in the locker room to encourage the players of Wydad, who were considered by him and called "Moroccan troops".
Honours
Performance in CAF competitions
*
CAF Champions League: 14 appearances
::
1987
File:1987 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsizes after leaving the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, killing 193; Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes after takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, ...
– Second Round
::
1991
File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Phi ...
– Quarter-finals
::
1992 – Champion
::
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
– Second Round
::
1994
File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson ...
– Second Round
::
2007 – Second Round
::
2011 – ''Runner-up''
::
2016
File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff, impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses duri ...
– Semi-finals
::
2017
File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...
– Champion
::
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
– Quarter final
::
2018–19 – ''Runner-up''
::
2019–20 – Semi-finals
::
2020–21
The dash is a punctuation mark consisting of a long horizontal line. It is similar in appearance to the hyphen but is longer and sometimes higher from the baseline. The most common versions are the endash , generally longer than the hyphen b ...
– Semi-finals
::
2021–22 – Champion
*
CAF Confederation Cup: 4 appearances
::
2004 – Second Round of 16
::
2007 – Second Round of 16
::
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
– Group stage
::
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fa ...
– Second round
*
CAF Super Cup 4 appearences
::
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
– ''Runner-up''
::
2003 – ''Runner-up''
::
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
– Champion
::
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...
– ''Runner-up''
*
African Cup Winners' Cup: 3 appearances
::
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...
– Semi-finals
::
2002 – Champion
::
2003 – Semi-finals
*
CAF Cup
The CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runners-up of member associations who have not qualified to the pre-existing CAF international club competition the African Cup of Champions Clubs.
History
The tou ...
: 3 appearances
::
1999
File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...
– ''Runner-up''
::
2000
File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...
– Second Round
::
2001 – Quarter-finals
Players
Current squad
Out on loan
Personnel
Current technical staff
Management
Managers
*
Père Jégo (1939–52)
*
Mohamed Massoun (1952–60, 1962–66, 1968–69)
*
Mustapha Bettache
Mustapha Bettache (20 January 1931 – 13 October 2005) was a Moroccan professional footballer who played for clubs in Morocco and France as well as the Morocco national football team and a football manager.
Club career
Born in the Habous neig ...
(1972–74, 1975–78)
*
Lucien Leduc
Lucien Leduc (30 December 1918 – 17 July 2004) was a French football midfielder and a manager.
Honours
As a player
CO Roubaix-Tourcoing
* French championship: 1947
RC Paris
* Coupe de France: 1949
As a coach
Marseille
* French championshi ...
(1974–75)
*
Jorvan Vieira
Jorvan Vieira (born September 29, 1953) is a Brazilian-Portuguese football coach and former player who played for Botafogo, Vasco da Gama and Portuguesa in the Brazil Serie A, and a current manager of ENPPI.
Career
Playing career
Vieira was ...
(1984)
*
Jean Vincent
Jean Vincent (29 November 1930 – 13 August 2013) was a French international footballer and manager.
Playing career
Playing primarily at outside-left, Vincent enjoyed a highly successful career at club and international level, winning numero ...
(1985–86)
*
Cor van der Hart
Cor van der Hart (25 January 1928 – 12 December 2006) was a Dutch footballer. He is known as one of the best defenders of the Netherlands national team in history, who was physically strong, who read the game very well and who had a qualit ...
(1988–89)
* Abdellah Settati
*
Yuriy Sevastyanenko
Yuriy Hryhorovych Sevastyanenko ( uk, Юрій Григорович Севастьяненко; born 2 January 1942) is a Ukrainian retired football manager.
During his tenure with Wydad AC in 1989–1994, he won three Botola titles, in addition ...
(1989–94)
*
Zaki Badou (1995–96)
*
Marcel Husson (1996–97)
*
Alexandru Moldovan
Alexandru Moldovan (born 23 August 1950, in Ocna Mureș) is a Romanian football manager and former midfielder.
Career
Playing career
Moldovan played for Dinamo Bucharest, Crişul Oradea, Jiul Petroșani, Progresul București, Victoria Bucur ...
(1997–98)
*
Zaki Badou (1998–2000)
*
Yuriy Sevastyanenko
Yuriy Hryhorovych Sevastyanenko ( uk, Юрій Григорович Севастьяненко; born 2 January 1942) is a Ukrainian retired football manager.
During his tenure with Wydad AC in 1989–1994, he won three Botola titles, in addition ...
(1997, 1999, 2000–01)
*
Ladislas Lozano (1 January 2002 – 20 March 2002)
*
Oscar Fulloné
Luis Oscar Fulloné Arce, better known as Oscar Fulloné (4 April 1939 – 22 May 2017) was an Argentine football coach and player. He played as a midfielder for Independiente Medellín and Real Oviedo before moving to England to play for Aston ...
(2002–03)
*
Rachid Taoussi
Rachid Taoussi ( ar, رشيد الطاوسي – born 1959, Sidi Kacem) is a former Moroccan football player and manager.
Club career
Born in Sidi Kacem, Taoussi began his career at age 17 with Union Sidi Kacem as a midfielder.
Coaching c ...
(2003)
*
Žarko Olarević (2003)
*
Ivica Todorov
Ivica Todorov, known in France as Yves Todorov (born 4 July 1950) is a Serbian-French association football, football coach who manages Al-Mokawloon Al-Arab, Arab Contractors.
He previously coached Congo national football team, the Congo nationa ...
(1 July 2003 – 30 November 2003)
*
Michel Decastel (1 December 2003 – 30 June 2004)
*
Jacky Bonnevay (1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005)
*
José Romão
José Pratas Romão (born 13 April 1954) is a Portuguese former football winger and manager.
Playing career
Born in Beja, Alentejo, Romão started playing for local C.D. Beja. He also represented Vitória de Guimarães, AD Fafe, F.C. Penaf ...
(2005–06)
*
Ladislas Lozano (15 February 2007 – 30 April 2007)
*
Nelo Vingada
Eduardo Manuel "Nelo" Martinho Bragança de Vingada (born 30 March 1953) is a Portuguese football manager.
Managerial career
Early years
Vingada was born in Serpa. His first steps as a professional football manager were in Belenenses, and then ...
(2007)
*
Plamen Markov
Plamen Markov (born 11 September 1957) is a Bulgarian retired professional footballer who played as a midfielder for clubs in Bulgaria and France. He represented the Bulgaria national team at international level.
Playing career
Markov was born ...
(1 July 2007 – 2007)
*
Jean-Michel Cavalli
Jean-Michel Cavalli (born 13 July 1957) is a French and Corsican football manager, who most recently managed MC Oran, and former player.
Biography
Cavalli started his playing career at Gazélec Ajaccio in 1971, also turning out for Corsican side ...
(12 December 2007 – 10 February 2008)
*
Oscar Fulloné
Luis Oscar Fulloné Arce, better known as Oscar Fulloné (4 April 1939 – 22 May 2017) was an Argentine football coach and player. He played as a midfielder for Independiente Medellín and Real Oviedo before moving to England to play for Aston ...
(March 2008 – 8 June 2008)
*
Zaki Badou (26 June 2008 – 23 April 2010)
*
Fakhreddine Rajhi
Fakhreddine Rajhi (born 19 November 1959) is a Moroccan footballer. He played in two matches for the Morocco national football team in 1991 and 1992. He was also named in Morocco's squad for the 1992 African Cup of Nations
The 1992 African Cu ...
(May 2010)
*
Dutra (2010)
*
Diego Garzitto (Oct 2010 – Jan 11)
*
Fakhreddine Rajhi
Fakhreddine Rajhi (born 19 November 1959) is a Moroccan footballer. He played in two matches for the Morocco national football team in 1991 and 1992. He was also named in Morocco's squad for the 1992 African Cup of Nations
The 1992 African Cu ...
(2011)
*
Michel Decastel (20 June 2011 – 5 January 2012)
*
Benito Floro
Benito Floro Sanz (born 2 June 1952) is a Spanish football manager.
Football career
Floro was born in Gijón, Asturias. During his professional career he managed Albacete Balompié (two spells, starting off in 1989 in Segunda División B and ...
(1 January 2012 – 20 September 2012)
*
Zaki Badou (7 October 2012 – 2 June 2013)
*
Abderrahim Talib (18 June 2013 – 24 December 2013)
*
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack (born 22 March 1949) is a Welsh former professional football player and manager.
He began his playing career as a teenager with his hometown club Cardiff City, becoming the youngest player to make an appearance for the ...
(June 2014 – September 2016)
*
Sébastien Desabre (September 2016 – January 2017)
*
Hussein Ammouta
Hussein Ammouta ( ar, الحسين عموتة, ; also spelled Lhoussaine Ammouta – born 24 October 1969 in Khemisset) is a Moroccan professional football manager and former player, who is the current head coach of Botola side Wydad AC. He previ ...
(January 2017 – January 2018)
*
Faouzi Benzarti
Faouzi Benzarti ( ar, فوزي البنزرتي; born 3 January 1950) is a Tunisian professional football manager and former player and the current head coach of MC Alger. He spent his entire career as a player at his home club US Monastir witho ...
(January 2018 – July 2019)
*
Zoran Manojlovic
Zoran ( sr-Cyrl, Зоран) is a common South Slavic name, the masculine form of Zora, which means ''dawn, daybreak''. The name is especially common in Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia and a little in Slovenia.
Notable people with this given na ...
(July 2019 – January 2020)
*
Sébastien Desabre (January 2020 – February 2020)
*
Juan Carlos Garrido
Juan Carlos Garrido Fernández (born 29 March 1969) is a Spanish football manager.
He managed Villarreal and Betis in La Liga before working for several years in the Arab world, winning the CAF Confederation Cup with Egypt's Al Ahly and Mo ...
(February 2020 – September 2020)
*
Miguel Ángel Gamondi (September 2020 – November 2020)
*
Faouzi Benzarti
Faouzi Benzarti ( ar, فوزي البنزرتي; born 3 January 1950) is a Tunisian professional football manager and former player and the current head coach of MC Alger. He spent his entire career as a player at his home club US Monastir witho ...
(November 2020 - 31 August 2021)
*
Walid Regragui
Hoalid Regragui (born 23 September 1975), known as Walid Regragui ( ar, وليد الركراكي, Walīd ar-Ragrāgī), is a Moroccan professional football manager and former player who played as a right-back. He is the head coach of the Mor ...
(10 August 2021 – 28 July 2022)
*
Hussein Ammouta
Hussein Ammouta ( ar, الحسين عموتة, ; also spelled Lhoussaine Ammouta – born 24 October 1969 in Khemisset) is a Moroccan professional football manager and former player, who is the current head coach of Botola side Wydad AC. He previ ...
(18 August 2022 – Present)
Presidents
* Mohamed Benjelloun ''(1937–42)''
* Abdelkader Benjelloun ''(1942–44)''
* Abdellatif Alami ''(1944–45)''
* Mohamed Belahssan Benjelloun ''(1945–48)''
* Abderrahmane Slaoui ''(1948–49)''
* Abderrahmane El-Khatib ''(1949–56)''
* Azzedine Benjelloun ''(1956–62)''
* Nacer Laraki ''(1962–63)''
* Hassan El-Joundi ''(1963–65)''
* Ahmed Lahrizi ''(1965–71)''
* Abderrazak Lahlou ''(1971–72)''
* Abderrazak Mekouar ''(1972–93)''
* Boubker Jdahim ''(1993–97)''
* Abdelmalik Sentissi ''(1997–99)''
* Nasserdine Doublali ''(1999–03)''
* Abdelilah El-Manjra ''(2003–05)''
* Taïb El-Fechtali ''(2005–07)''
* Abdelillah El-Akram ''(2007–2014)''
* Saïd Naciri ''(2014–)''
Notes
References
External links
Official club websiteNews websiteWydad websiteUltras website
{{Casablanca
Football clubs in Morocco
CAF Champions League winning clubs
African Cup Winners Cup winning clubs
CAF Super Cup winning clubs
Football clubs in Casablanca
Association football clubs established in 1937
Multi-sport clubs in Morocco
1937 establishments in Morocco
Sports clubs in Morocco
Basketball teams in Morocco