Raja Casablanca

Raja Club Athletic, widely known as Raja Casablanca or simply Raja, is a football club based in Casablanca, Morocco, that competes in Botola, the top flight of Moroccan football.

Founded on 20 March 1949 in the district of Derb Sultan, the club has traditionally worn a green home kit since inception. Raja is a well known club for the success of its football section, very popular in and outside the country. The club sits at the Raja CA Academy for training and plays home games in the Stade Mohammed V since 1955. Unlike most African sporting entities, Raja's members have owned and operated the club throughout its history.

The club is one of the most widely supported teams in Africa. Raja were a founding member of the Botola and is one of three clubs that have never been relegated, along with founding club Wydad AC and AS FAR. The club holds many long-standing rivalries, most notably in the Casablanca Derby with Wydad AC and the Classico with the capital side AS FAR.

Raja established itself as a major force in both Moroccan and African football in the late 1980s winning three CAF Champions League. This success was replicated in the league, which the club won seven times in ten years, including six in a row between 1995 and 2001. This team, which included some club icons such as Mustapha Moustawdaa, Mustapha Chadili, Salaheddine Bassir and Abdellatif Jrindou, is considered by some in the sport to be the greatest African team in the 1990s. Club and Moroccan national team legend, Abdelmajid Dolmy holds the record for most appearances for the club.

In 2000, Raja was ranked by CAF in the 3rd place of the best African clubs of the 20th century, after Al Ahly and Zamalek.

In domestic football, the club has won 22 trophies; 13 Botola titles, 9 Moroccan Throne Cup. In international competitions, Raja have won 9 trophies; 3 CAF Champions League titles, two CAF Confederation Cup, two CAF Super Cup and 1 CAF Cup. It is the only African team, with TP Mazembe, to reach the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013 when they faced Bayern Munich. As of 2024, Raja is ranked as the ninth richest club in Africa by market value, valued at €14 million.

History

Foundation and first steps (1949-1956)

Raja Club Athletic (abbreviated to Raja CA or RCA) was founded by the Moroccan resistance and more particularly by the honorary president Moulay Sassi Ben Ahmed El Alaoui Aboudarka and the heads of the Moroccan unions, in particular the first president of the Moroccan Workers' Union, Mahjoub Ben Seddik, as well as the former president of the Union of Arab Lawyers and ex-prime minister Mohamed Maâti Bouabid.

Boujemaa Kadri took charge of the administrative organization, necessary for the foundation of Raja CA. Other personalities are behind the club's creation, such as Tibari, Salah Medkouri, Mustapha Chemseddine, Karim Hajjaj, Si Ahmed Skalli Haddaoui, Choukri, Daoudi, Hachmi Nejjar, Mohamed Charfaoui, Laachfoubi El Bouazzaoui, Abdelkader Jalal, Naoui, and some other Moroccan intellectuals and resistance fighters who met often at a café named ''Al Watan'' (The homeland in English), owned at the time by Hmidou El Watani, in Derb Sultan.

The ban on entrusting the presidency of the club to a Moroccan is circumvented by leaving the chair for six months to Ben Abadji Hejji, a Muslim of Algerian origin who had the French nationality. The French authorities, are thus forced to accept that. After several attempts to find a name for the club, a draw between the names of Raja and Fath, allowed the name Raja, picked three consecutive times, to be chosen.

Early years (1956–1973)

After the independence of Morocco in 1956, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation is created and therefore replaces one of the twenty-two leagues of the French Football Federation during the time of the French Protectorate which was called Ligue du Maroc de Football. In their first season, Raja successfully defeated the Sports Union of Ben Ahmed 4–1, Ennasr of Casablanca 2–0 and finally Olympique Ouezzane 7–0. They were thus the first team to enter the first division. Kacem Kacemi then retired from his coaching position for personal reasons. Raja lost their first match 2–0 in the 1956–57 Botola against Fath Union Sport, but they managed to beat SC Roches Noires in the next leg with the same score. The team finished the season in tenth, barely avoiding relegation. The following year, thanks to the arrival of Affani Mohamed Ben Lahcen known as Père Jégo, the club finished fourth.

In the 1964–1965 season, the club finished twelfth and almost got relegated, but they still managed to reach the final of the Throne Cup for the first time in its history, where they faced Kawkab Marrakech on 13 June 1965 at the Stade Mohammed V. KACM won the match 3–1. It was the third consecutive coronation of the Merrakchis in the competition, and the first defeat in the final for Raja. During this season, the Green Eagles defeated Wydad in the quarterfinals with a score of two to one. The team finished the 1966–1967 season in third place in the championship with 65 points. Houmane Jarir finished as the top scorer with 18 goals.

On 14 July 1968, the final of the Throne Cup took place, between Raja and Racing de Casablanca. RAC won the title for the first time in its history and the Eagles, still unable to claim their first title, lost 1–0.

Three cups in a decade (1973–1982)

The 1974 Throne Cup final opposed the semi-final winners, Raja who beat Wydad AC on penalties, against the Maghreb de Fès. During a match played in the Stade Mohammed V on 28 July 1974, Raja led by coach Mohammed Tibari, wins the cup against MAS thanks to the goal of El Arabi 1–0. The Green Eagles won this competition for the first time and also won the first title in their history.

On 17 July 1977, Raja CA moved to Rabat to face Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi at the Stade du FUS on behalf of the Throne Cup final. The Greens won the match 1–0 on a penalty from Abdellatif Beggar and therefore won the competition for the second time.

On 14 March 1982 at the Stade Roches Noires in Casablanca, the final of the Throne Cup was played between Raja and the KAC Kénitra. In 1977,Raja won its third title in the competition after a goal by Abdellatif Beggar. This season will also witness the first appearance of Raja on the African scene, more precisely in the 1983 African Cup Winners' Cup, unexperienced Raja was eliminated in the first round.

First titles in Africa and Morocco (1982–1995)

In 1982–1983, reached the final of the Throne Cup for the second time in a row, this time against the Olympique de Casablanca. The final took place on 21 August 1983 at the Stade Mohamed V, Raja loses the title this time on penalties (4–5), after the match ended in a draw 1–1. Raja finished second in the 1985–1986 championship, behind his rival Wydad AC, who edged him 2 points on the last day. Furthermore, he was eliminated in the cup by the future champion, AS Far in the round of 16 2–0.

In the 1987–1988 season, then coached by the Portuguese Fernando Cabrita, Raja defeated US Sidi Kacem 1–0 on the penultimate day thanks to the goal of Abderrahim Hamraoui. The Greens finally manage to win their first championship title after 39 years. Following this, Raja participates in the 1989 African Cup of Clubs, the Eagles of Rabah Saâdane wrap up this edition by winning in the final against the Algerian side of MC Oran on penalties after a cumulative score of 1–1. Raja succeeds in winning this competition from its first participation.

In the 1991–92 season, Raja reached the 1991–92 Throne Cup final to face Olympique de Casa again. The match took place on 11 January 1993 at the El Harti Stadium in Marrakech and Olympique managed to beat Raja another time in the final with a score of 1–0.

Supremacy (1995–2006)

On 18 February 1996, in the quarterfinals of the 1995–96 Throne Cup, Raja recorded the highest score in the history of Derby and overpowered Wydad (5–1). He then eliminated Rachad Bernoussi in the semi-finals (3–0) before defeating ASFAR in the final with a goal scored by Jrindou in the 119th minute. Two months later, Green Eagles won their first domestic double and the third of Moroccan football history.

On 16 September 1996, Raja lost the final of the 1996 Arab Club Champions Cup, against Al Ahly SC with a score of 3–1. On 15 June 1997, Raja, secured their second Botola title in a row with 2 matches to go, 2 points ahead of their rival. On 14 December 1997, and after losing the first leg against Ashanti Gold S.C. (1–0), the Green Eagles won their second Champions League title, on penalties after winning the match (1–0). On 15 March 1998 at Stade Mohammed V, Raja lost the African Super Cup to Étoile du Sahel on penalties after 2-2 a draw.

On 3 May, Raja defeated Hassania Agadir and won the Championship with a record of 67 points and one loss conceded, an all-time record also. On 8 November, the Greens Eagles were eliminated from the semi-finals of the 1998 Champions League. On 25 April 1999 at Stade Mohamed V, the Green Eagles won the Afro-Asian Cup against South Korean side Pohang Steelers. On 29 June 1999, under the direction of Oscar Fulloné, Raja defeated JS Massira (2–1) and won his 4th League title in a row. In the second leg of the 1999 Champions League final, and after a draw at Stade Père Jégo (0–0), Fulloné's men face Espérance Sportive de Tunis at Stade El Menzah. The match stayed goalless 0–0. Then came the penalty shootout, and the success of Mustapha Chadili who stopped the last penalty and offered the title to his team.

Raja qualified for the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup. Raja is eliminated from the first round after three defeats against S.C Corinthians 0–2, Al Nassr FC (3–4, goals by Nejjary, Bouchaib El Moubarki and El Karkouri) and Real Madrid (2–3, goals by Achami and Moustawdaa). On 5 March 2000, in a full and enthousiastic Stade Mohammed V, Raja beat the Ivorian side Africa Sports thanks to the goals of Bouchaib El Moubarki and Mohamed Armoumen 2–0 and won its first CAF Super Cup. On 21 June, after their victory against JS Massira 4–1, the Eagles set a new record and won their 5th championship in a row with 59 points, ahead of Wydad and Maghreb de Fès.

On 20 May 2001, Silvester Takač won Raja their 6th consecutive championship with a total of 64 points. On 17 November 2002, in a memorable match, the Green Devils overcomes a 2–0 first-leg deficit by beating ASEC Abidjan in the semi-finals at Mohamed V. Raja thus enters its 4th Champions League final to face Zamalek SC. After a draw (0–0) in Casablanca, Walter Meeuws' men were defeated in Cairo 0–1. On 9 November 2003 at Stade Roumdé Adjia, Henri Michel's men won the CAF Cup against the Cameroonian side of Cotonsport (0–0), after their 2–0 first leg victory.

On 11 January 2004, Raja won the Throne Cup for the 5th time in its history by beating MAS of Fez with the score of 2–0. On 20 June, Raja was crowned champion of Morocco for the 8th time in its history. On 16 July 2005 at the Moulay Abdallah stadium, Raja won the 6th throne cup, beating Olympique Khouribga on penalties (5–4) in the final after a 0–0 draw. Raja won the 2006 Arab Champions League by beating ENPPI Club in the final with respective scores of 2–1 and 1–0.

Ups and downs (2006–2012)

In 2008–2009, the club parted ways with Chay and replaced him with Portuguese José Romão, who helped Raja win the title after 5 years. In the summer of 2010, the return of ex-president Abdesalam Hanat was highly greeted by supporters and, after a mass signing of players, Raja were crowned Champions of Morocco with 7 points ahead of their runner-up. This was their 10th league title.After a large wave of protests, President Abdesalam Hanat resigns from his post and a general assembly is scheduled for June 2012. Mohamed Boudrika was then elected president, and former player and coach of the team, Mohamed Fakhir returned, promising a renewal in both at the administrative and sporting levels with the signing of many players.

Boudrika era (2012–2016)

The club began their pre-season preparation in Tunisia and then returned to Morocco to face Athletic Bilbao where 60,000 supporters were eager to see the new face of their team. Raja beat the finalists of the Europa League and Copa del Rey 3–1 with goals from Mouhcine Moutouali, Adil Karrouchy and Mouhcine Iajour, then lost 8–0 in Tangier against FC Barcelona. It was the biggest defeat in the history of the team.

On 18 November at the Moulay Abdellah stadium, Raja won their 7th Throne Cup against AS FAR following a penalty shootout. On 3 April 2013, the Green Eagles were eliminated from the semi-finals of the Arab Cup against Al-Arabi SC by conceding a draw at Stade Al Abdi 2–2 despite having led the score thanks to a brace from Mouhcine Moutouali. The first leg in Kuwait ended in a 1–1 draw.

On 25 May, after an epic match against Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, Raja became champions of Morocco for the 11th time, after dominating the championship all season, and breaking the record for goals scored (56 goals). On 18 November, Raja reached the Throne Cup final for the second consecutive time, but lost the title on penalties against DHJ. Adding this to the bad results in the league and a few days before the World Cup, the club decided to dismiss Mohamed Fakhir, and appointed Tunisian Faouzi Benzarti in his place.

From 11 to 21 December 2013, Raja participated in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup. The Green Eagles eliminated Auckland City (2–1), C.F. Monterrey (2–1) and Atlético Mineiro (3–1) to get to the final, a stage never reached by an Arab or a North African team. The team lost 2–0 in the final against Bayern Munich but came out proud with the applause of the supporters and the international press which praised this achievement. Raja is then greeted upon his arrival in Casablanca by King Mohammed VI who pays tribute to them during a ceremony at the royal palace where he decorated the entire team. It became one of the greatest achievements in the history of African and Arab football.

In the 2013–2014, after a poor first leg which ended with the departure of Mohamed Fakhir, Faouzi Benzarti relaunched the green machine and Raja garnered 35 points out of a possible 45, scored 30 goals and only conceded 6. During the penultimate matchday in a packed Mohammed V stadium, the Green Eagles played the title-deciding match against their direct rivals Moghreb Tétouan and won 5–0 and moved on to face Olympic Club de Safi. But to everyone's surprise, Raja lost both the game and the title. Nonetheless, the team managed to win the 2015 UNAF Club Cup in this critical period after beating Club Africain 2–0.

Hard times and redemption (2016–2021)

After the departure of Mohamed Boudrika at the end of the 2015–2016 season, the new president Said Hasbane declared that Raja suffers from a financial crisis, so they must find solutions by bringing in new sponsors. On 10 August, the Raja thanked Rachid Taoussi for his services and appointed Mohamed Fakhir as coach again. In the summer of 2017, financial problems got worse and supporters demanded the departure of the president. Fakhir resigned from his job, because of the absence of the chairmen and the severe crisis that the club has encountered since the start of the season. On 20 June, Juan Carlos Garrido was named as Raja's new head coach. Despite the crisis, the Green Eagles were able to clinch their eighth Throne Cup against Difaâ El Jadida on penalties.

On 13 September 2018, Jawad Ziyat was named new president of Raja CA. In December 2018, Raja CA won the 2018 Confederation Cup against Congolese side AS Vita Club, winning the first leg 3–0 and losing 3–1 in the second in Kinshasa, thus winning this competition for the first time. It was also the club's first African title in 15 years having last won the final edition of the CAF Cup in 2003 before its merger with the Cup Winners' Cup. On 28 January, Juan Carlos was dismissed and replaced by his assistant Youssef Safri as caretaker. On 30 January, Raja announced the appointment of Patrice Carteron as new coach with a renewable contract of one year.

On 29 March, Raja won their second 2019 CAF Super Cup against Espérance Sportive de Tunis with a 2–1 scoreline in front of 25,000 spectators at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. On 11 November, Patrice Carteron was discharged from his function and is replaced by Jamal Sellami. On 23 November, in the return match of the round of 16 of the Arab Club Championship against Wydad, the first game of Jamal Sellami on the bench, the Greens were trailing 4–1. Immediately after, Hamid Ahaddad scored to make it 4–2. Moutouali then successfully converted a penalty " Panenka" style in the 88th minute, before Ben Malango sealed qualification with the equalizer in the 94th minute (4–4), completing a historic Remontada within the last 15 minutes. Raja thus eliminated their rivals in the first Derby played at an international competition.

In the 2019–20 CAF Champions League, Raja lost the semi-finals of the Champions League against Zamalek. Raja were thus crowned 2019–20 champions of Morocco, their first league title since 2012–13. On 11 April 2021, Jamal Sellami stepped down following the 3–0 win away to Pyramids, after the fans demanded his departure due to poor style of play and controversial team selection and tactics. He was replaced by Lassaad Chabbi.

In the 2020–21 CAF Confederation Cup, Raja qualified to the knockout stages after finishing top in the group stages winning six matches without conceding a single goal in the process. They faced Orlando Pirates and claimed a 5–1 victory with ease. They won Pyramids FC after a penalty-shootout in the semi-final. On July 10, Raja CA won the Confederation Cup by beating JS Kabylie 2–1, despite playing the last half hour with ten players after a booking by the ref. On August 21, the Greens won the 2019–20 Arab Club Champions Cup by defeating Ittihad FC on penalties after a thrilling final that ended in a draw (4-4, goals from Ilias Haddad, Benhalib, El Wardi and Rahimi).

Two seasons without a title (2021–2023)

On October 27, after the approval of the moral and financial reports for the 2019-2020 and 2020–2021 seasons, the general assembly appoints Anis Mahfoud as the new president of Raja Club Athletic. On December 22, Raja lost the 2021 CAF Super Cup after being defeated by Al Ahly SC in the penalties shootout. On 21 February, Marc Wilmots was released from his position as Head coach after a 1–0 victory against ES Sétif. A week later, they signed Rachid Taoussi as the new Head coach.

On February 24, the government announced the reopening of stadiums. The first beneficiary in the Champions League were Raja, who was scheduled to face Horoya AC on 25 February at the Stade Mohamed-V after two years behind closed doors. The Ultras groups announced the boycott of the match. Some 10,000 supporters attended Raja's victory after a Mohsine Moutouali goal (1–0), a clear run that kept them at the group's top with 9 points. Raja broke their record for consecutive victories in the Champions League with 5 wins. After a seconde place in the Botola and exists in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the Cup, Raja ended an unstable season marked by the passage of three presidents and four coaches and no titles for the first time in five years.

On 16 June 2022, after the resignation of Anis Mahfoud, Aziz El Badraoui was unanimously elected as new president of the club and promised a new era. A dozen of players left the club after the end of their contracts and more than fifteen joined it under the leadership of new coach Faouzi Benzarti. After a bad start in the league, he resigned and was replaced by his compatriot Mondher Kebaier who recorded the first away victory of the season against ASN Nigelec in the Champions League (0–2). Despite a historic group stage in terms of points and goals scored, Raja struggled in the league and missed out on the title race. The club is once again eliminated in the quarter-finals against Al Ahly.

Return of Boudrika (2023–present)

On 23 May 2023, Aziz El Badraoui resigned and Mohamed Boudrika succeeded him, beating Said Hasbane in the elections. Mondher Kebaier is replaced by Josef Zinnbauer who becomes the first German coach in the club's history. He takes up his first challenge as he defeats Wydad in the semi-finals of the Throne Cup. In the final, despite the early red card of Marouane Hadhoudi and a penalty canceled by VAR, Raja played a good game but conceded a penalty that Issoufou Dayo scored in the 108th minute (1–0 defeat). A month later, the team flew to Saudi Arabia to defend their title at the 2023 Arab Champion Clubs Cup. Raja topped their group made up of Al-Wahda, CR Belouizdad and Kuwait SC with three victories, but exited in the quarter-final against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, who opened the scoring in particular, after missing several opportunities (3-1).

In the 2023–24 season, Raja CA became the first team in history to win an undefeated Botola title (winning 21 and drawing 9). They chased AS FAR from the start of the season until the penultimate match and Adam Ennafati's last minute free kick against Wydad that sent them to the top of the standings. On 14 June 2024, the club secured the title by winning against MC Oujda (0-3) and also broke the record of points (72). On July 1, Raja continued with a fourteenth victory in a row by beating AS FAR once again in the Throne Cup final to secure the third double of its history.

Crest and colours

Colors and kits

Green and white were used since the team's first matches in 1949. The green was chosen by the founders because it symbolizes hope and growth. It's also considered the traditional colour of Islam and one of the two colours of the Moroccan flag. White is the symbolic colour of Casablanca.

Raja jersey was long made by the Adidas, roughly between 1968 and 1980. Raja made its first sponsorship deal with General Tire, making it the first Moroccan club to display a brand on the jersey. From 1995 to 1999, the club is sponsored by Danone and Lavazza for a year, but the club changes equipment manufacturer each season (Adidas, Uhlsport and Umbro). After winning the 1999 CAF Champions League, Raja signed a three-year deal with Hummel, the jersey was sponsored during this period by Western Union, Fiat, Café ASTA and Coca-Cola, In 2001, Raja signed a contract with the French sports management company Transatlas Sports Management (TSM) which has made Raja one of the first clubs in Africa to have a marketing commission. Kappa took over the shirt during four years. The next brand was Lotto from 2007 to 2013, then Adidas takes over again until 2017. On August 13, 2021, Raja announced the signing of a four-year contract with the Italian equipment supplier Kappa.

On July 27, 2023, Soccerhub report claims Raja has signed three-year contract with British equipment supplier Umbro till 2026.

Many football clubs around the world sport stars on their jerseys, and Raja is no exception. The jerseys of Raja have four golden stars. Each of his stars represents one of his victories in African or national competition. The first three (at the bottom of the logo) symbolize his three cups in the CAF Champions League of 1989, 1997 and 1999; the fourth (the biggest at the top of the logo) was added in 2011 following the tenth win in Botola Pro.

Mascot

During the French occupation, the eagle represented for the founders the strong, prestigious and combative raptor. The animal's charisma is very representative of the history of the club, Raja was able to fly over the opponents despite the constraints. As Père Jégo wanted, the mythic figure of the history of the club, the eagle has been the club's emblem and mascot since its creation. Raja is now mainly known as Green Eagles.

Infrastructure

Stadium

Stade Mohammed V (in Arabic: مركب محمد الخامس‎) is part of a large sports complex which contains, a 15,000-seat sports hall, an indoor Olympic swimming pool, a 650 m2 media center, a conference room, a health center and an anti-doping center. It is located in Maârif, in downtown Casablanca, 25 km away from Mohammed V Airport, and 5 km away from Casa-Voyageurs Railway Station.Historique et descriptif du stade Mohammed-V, sur Fifa.com

It was inaugurated on 6 March 1955, under the name of the ''Stade Marcel Cerdan'' with a capacity of 30,000 seats. A few months later, after Morocco's independence, it took the name of ''Stade d'Honneur''. In the late 1970s, in order to host the Casablanca 1983 Mediterranean Games, ''Stade Donor'', as the Casablancais like to call it, was closed for a major renovation that increased in its capacity to 80,000. It reopened in 1983 under the name of Mohammed V, Sultan and King of Morocco that played an important role in gaining the Kingdom's independence.

In March 2016, the stadium underwent a new renovation to make it compliant with FIFA standards. The current capacity of the stadium is 45,891 seats.

Oasis Complex

Raja-Oasis Sports Complex opened in 1932 under the name of the ''Aviation Complex'' in ''La Cité des sports'' (Oasis

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