The Moroccan Football Federation dismisses Halilhodzic following differences in World Cup preparations.
Morocco have made the decision to part ways with manager Vahid Halilhodzic just three months before the World Cup in Qatar, the country’s football federation confirmed on Thursday. The 69-year-old’s future had been a subject of intense speculation, and the dismissal marks the third time in his career that he has been sacked before leading a team into the prestigious tournament.
Halilhodzic’s contract was terminated due to fundamental differences in vision between him and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation regarding the team’s preparation for the World Cup. “The two parties decided to part ways after divergent opinions on how best to prepare for the Qatar 2022 World Cup,” the federation explained in a statement.
The Bosnian coach, who previously managed teams such as PSG, had been at odds with the federation over a number of issues, most notably his strained relationship with star midfielder Hakim Ziyech. Halilhodzic had accused the Chelsea player of feigning injury to avoid international duty, which led to Ziyech’s exclusion from both the World Cup qualifying campaign and the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. Despite public outcry calling for Ziyech’s return, the manager stood firm in his decision.
Halilhodzic has faced similar issues in the past. He was dismissed by both Ivory Coast and Japan despite qualifying both teams for the World Cup. Japan fired him just two months before the 2018 World Cup, citing “communication issues” and a breakdown in trust with his players. Similarly, he was sacked by Ivory Coast before the 2010 World Cup after a poor performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In a previous successful stint, Halilhodzic took Algeria to the 2014 World Cup, where they almost defeated Germany in a thrilling last-16 match. Morocco is expected to appoint Walid Regragui, a former international and manager of Wydad Casablanca, as their new coach. Regragui led Wydad to victory in the African Champions League in May, and he is now set to take the reins ahead of the World Cup.
