Raja Club Athletic appoint Paco Jemez as new head coach after Nasreddine Nabi exit

Raja Club Athletic have chosen Spanish coach Paco Jemez to lead their first team after ending Nasreddine Nabi’s short and turbulent spell in charge.

Nabi submitted his resignation and has since left Morocco for Belgium, following a breakdown in relations with the club’s Portuguese sporting director, Rogerio Matias. The disagreement created several days of tension and prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement that would have allowed the Tunisian coach to continue.

Raja’s decision to appoint Jemez was reported by the Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport, which said the club had considered a number of candidates before settling on the experienced Spanish manager.

Jemez emerged as a leading option during the past few hours, with former Portugal coach Paulo Duarte also under consideration. Raja ultimately selected the 56-year-old after reviewing recommendations presented by Matias during meetings with club officials.

The Moroccan club is expected to formally introduce Jemez as its new head coach on Tuesday at Raja’s academy. His appointment will bring an end to the uncertainty surrounding Nabi’s future and begin a new chapter for the coaching staff.

Jemez has spent much of his career in Spanish football. He managed Rayo Vallecano for five seasons and also held senior coaching positions at Las Palmas, Granada, Cordoba and Ibiza.

His experience extends beyond Spain. He previously worked with Mexican club Cruz Azul and Iranian side Tractor before joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s coaching staff at English club West Ham during 2026.

Raja’s board are relying on Jemez’s experience to help reorganise the club internally and guide the team through the next stage of the season. The club is working against time to complete the coaching appointment and prepare for its upcoming commitments.

The decision follows the collapse of Nabi’s tenure, which ended before the club could establish a stable working relationship between the head coach and sporting director. Nabi’s departure to Belgium came after his resignation, with no compromise reached over his continued role.

Jemez’s expected presentation will therefore be the first formal step in Raja’s attempt to draw a line under the dispute and focus on its sporting priorities. The club has yet to make the appointment official, but the Spanish coach has been selected to succeed Nabi after the final discussions between the board and Matias.