Five things you may not know about the new Pirates coach

From Fulham to Marumo Gallants, Ouaddou has had a fascinating career.
Orlando Pirates sprung a surprise on Monday as they announced Moroccan Abdelsam Ouaddou as their new head coach. Here, Phakaaathi looks at five things you might not know about the 46 year-old new Buccaneers mentor.
Fulham fun in the EPL
Ouaddou had a fine career as a centre back for club and country. Between 2001-2003, he played in the English Premier League for Jean Tigana's Fulham.
'Without a doubt, the Premier League was the pinnacle of my career. Its unmatched player quality, electrifying fan atmosphere, and impeccable organisation made it an unforgettable experience,' Ouaddou told tribalfootball.com.
Morocco's captain fantastic at AFCON 2004
Ouaddou captained Morocco at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, and led the team all the way to the final, where they were beaten 2-1 by the tournament hosts.
The central defender scored in a 4-0 group stage win over Benin, and marshalled a defence that conceded just four goals in the whole tournament. He was named in the Guardian's Team of the Tournament and teammate Youssef Hadji said 'He's been a rock, and he would definitely be in my team of the tournament.'
Troubles in Qatar
Ouaddou moved to Qatar in 2010 and played for Lekhiwa, before moving onto Qatar SC the following season. The former Atlas Lions captain, however, was involved in a dispute with Qatar SC after refusing to agree to terminate his contract.
'When you cut off a man's electricity, when you confiscate his car, so that he can no longer go to work, and when you stop paying his salary, it is because you want to destroy a human being. I believe that respect for work, respect for the contracts that you sign, is fundamentally a matter of respect for the dignity of man. It's a question of human rights,' Ouaddou said in an interview with the Times. In February 2014, Ouaddou won a case he took to Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber, after Qatar SC failed to pay him for six months. Stellenbosch help spark Ouaddou resignation
Ouaddou retired from playing in January 213, and moved into the coaching structures at French side AS Nancy. After coaching Nancy's youth team, his first opportunity in Africa came on the technical staff of the Algerian national team.
He then coached Algerian club side Mouloudia and Benin's Loto FC, before moving to DRC giants AS Vita in January 2024. Ouaddou's spell at Vita did not last long, however, as he resigned in September 2024, following a CAF Confederation Cup loss to Steve Barker's Stellenbosch.
Stellenbosch beat Vita 2-0 in the first leg of a preliminary qualifying round, and Ouaddou announced afterwards that he was leaving, citing the club's poor organisational skills.
'Next week, I think they will have a very tough game but without me because it was my last game here. As a professional coach I cannot continue in these conditions to come before the game, not 24 hours before, 14 hours before,' Ouaddou told journalists.
'With maybe four or five players missed in that team because of passport, it's a very difficult job for me. So it was my last game, I wish the best for my team next week because I think they can achieve it.
'I am going back to France, because I live there. It's finished for me, I cannot work in those conditions.' Gallants success ends with a squabble
Ouaddou first foray into coaching in the Premier Soccer League came in February of this year, when he was appointed head coach by Marumo Gallants.
He only coached Gallants for 12 matches, but he won five of those, including beating Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership. Having achieved his task of saving Gallants from relegation – they finished a respectable 10th in the table – many expected Ouaddou to stay, but he suddenly announced his resignation.
'I obviously remain open to any proposal for an ambitious project and determined to take on a new challenge,' said Ouaddou in what proved a prescient statement.
Gallants denied any knowledge of his resignation.
'The Club can confirm that it has not received any formal communication or notice of resignation from Coach Ouaddou,' said Gallants.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The South African

3 hours ago

• The South African

Orlando Pirates turn to Ouaddou after Rulani talks collapse why

Orlando Pirates stunned fans on Monday by unveiling Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou as their new head coach, despite recent talks with Rulani Mokwena. The club moved swiftly as their European pre-season tour looms, with their first fixture against Bolton Wanderers set for 11 July in Spain. A source revealed that Mokwena remained a serious candidate, but negotiations hit a stumbling block that ultimately shifted the Buccaneers' plans. While several reports believed a deal was nearing finalisation, Pirates opted for a different direction. A club stakeholder explained one of the major reasons behind the breakdown in talks. 'Rulani (Mokwena) wanted to bring in his own bench. That didn't work out. It is part of the reason for the change,' the source said. This demand reportedly clashed with the club's internal structure. Prompting a rethink as the club pressed on with their search for a coach who fits their broader criteria. Respect remains between Mokwena and Pirates Despite the failed negotiations, the relationship between Mokwena and the Pirates hierarchy remains respectful. 'There was interest in coach Mokwena from other clubs and it's believed that Pirates wanted to give him that chance. They found one [coach] who could suit their criteria,' the source noted. Mokwena recently attracted interest from Pyramids FC, Yanga SC, and Zamalek, but he ruled himself out of contention for the Egyptian giants. However, the unfolding events at Orlando Pirates may have broader implications on where he lands next. Ouaddou, who recently resigned from Marumo Gallants and was reportedly close to joining Chippa United. Now takes the reins at one of South Africa's most demanding clubs. His appointment marks a dramatic twist and has already triggered wide debate among fans and pundits. 'You know what was happening was a tricky situation. The club hierarchy made their decision and Rulani was not the one,' a source said. Will Ouaddou be a success at Orlando Pirates? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News

4 hours ago

• IOL News

Can Abdeslam Ouaddou trump Sundowns and make Orlando Pirates great again?

Is Abdeslam Ouaddou the right man for Pirates? Former Marumo Gallants head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou was appointed as Jose Riveiro's successor at Orlando Pirates on Monday morning. Photo: Brian Riikhotso/BackpagePix Image: Brian Riikhotso/BackpagePix New Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, formerly of Marumo Gallants and DR Congo club AS Vita, must have had a brilliant interview to persuade the club to give him the opportunity to replace Jose Riveiro. Pirates, who have been heavily linked with Rulani Mokwena, dropped a bombshell on Monday morning when they announced that former Morocco international Ouaddou would be taking over. Ouaddou's appointment doesn't make sense. Under Riveiro, Pirates made a good push for the league title, and it was hoped that the next man in would be able to get them over the finish line. So, when they appointed a coach with very little pedigree, fans will be asking questions. In March this year, Ouaddou was tasked with rescuing Marumo Gallants, who were battling against relegation. After a run of 12 games, he got the job done with four wins, four draws, and two defeats. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading His work with Gallants proved he can get results, but can he challenge the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns? In his five years as a head coach, Ouaddou has just one trophy – the Congolese Cup – to his name. To unseat Sundowns at the top of the table, the club might need someone with a bit more pedigree. Last year, Ouaddou made headlines across South Africa when he announced his resignation as AS Vita head coach during the post-match press conference after going down to Stellenbosch FC in the CAF Confederation Cup. His reasoning for quitting the team was valid. According to him, the club, supposedly one of the most supported on the continent, was not run very professionally. They trained on a different pitch every day, and for their clash against Stellenbosch, they only landed in Cape Town hours before the game due to visa issues. In his previous two jobs, he's shown no sign that he is capable of guiding a team to a league title. Pirates have made a mistake with this one. Had they appointed Mokwena, they would have had a coach who knows how to win a league. For a club of Pirates' stature, ambition matters as much as loyalty and potential. Ouaddou might turn out to be a smart long-term project, but right now, the Buccaneers don't need a rebuild – they need a ruthless title charge. If this gamble doesn't pay off quickly, it could set the club back just as Sundowns threaten to stretch even further out of reach. IOL Sport * The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media. ** JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Send us an email with your comments, thoughts or responses to iolletters@ Letters should be a maximum of 500 words, and may be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Submissions should include a contact number and physical address (not for publication).

TimesLIVE

5 hours ago

• TimesLIVE

Despite Kgatlana absence, Ellis has big names in final Banyana squad for Wafcon

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis as announced her final 26-player squad for next month's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), with plenty of experience in it. South Africa are defending their 2022 title in the same venue, Morocco, in the the tournament that runs from July 5 to 26. The bombshell withdrawal of star attacker Thembi Kgatlana has hit Ellis's squad. However, many hugely experienced names remain, including 17 of the players who were part of the victorious squad three years ago. Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis announces the squad for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. #LiveTheImpossible @SABC_Sport — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) June 23, 2025 These include goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, defenders Lebohang Ramalepe and Bambanani Mbane, midfielders Bongeka Gamede, Sibulele Holweni, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane and Noxolo Cesane and attackers Hildah Magaia and Jermaine Seoposenwe. Banyana open their Group C campaign against Ghana at Honor Stadium in Oujda on July 7.