Paco Jémez: What Raja Casablanca can expect from their new Spanish coach

Raja Club Athletic have appointed Spanish coach Paco Jémez as their new head coach following the departure of Tunisian Nasreddine Nabi.

The 56-year-old was chosen ahead of several candidates, including Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte, as the Casablanca club look to begin a new chapter under the experienced Spaniard.

Jémez’s appointment is his first head coaching role in Africa after a managerial career that has taken him across Spain, Mexico, Iran and England.

A new challenge in Morocco

Jémez arrives at Raja with a reputation for attacking football and an uncompromising tactical philosophy.

The Spaniard made his name during his first spell with Rayo Vallecano between 2012 and 2016, where he built a team that prioritised possession, aggressive pressing and an attacking approach despite the club operating with comparatively limited resources.

His philosophy was based on taking the game to opponents rather than adjusting his style according to the quality of the opposition.

That approach helped Rayo secure an eighth-place finish in La Liga during the 2012-13 season, one of the club’s strongest campaigns in the modern era.

Experience across several countries

Jémez has since built a career that extends beyond Spain, taking charge of a number of clubs in different footballing environments.

After leaving Rayo, he managed Las Palmas, Granada, Córdoba and Ibiza, while also taking his coaching methods abroad with Mexican side Cruz Azul.

He later moved to Iran to coach Tractor, adding further international experience to his managerial CV.

His most recent role came in England, where he joined Nuno Espírito Santo’s coaching staff at West Ham United in 2026 as a first-team assistant.

The position gave Jémez experience of the Premier League and another tactical environment before his move to Morocco.

What Raja fans can expect

At Raja, Jémez is expected to bring the same attacking principles that have defined much of his coaching career.

His teams traditionally favour possession, forward-thinking football and aggressive play, rather than relying on a deep defensive block.

That philosophy could make his arrival particularly significant for Raja, a club where expectations are traditionally high and results are demanded quickly.

His immediate task will be to introduce his ideas to the squad, establish a strong relationship with his players and adapt his experience from different leagues to the demands of Moroccan football.

For Jémez, meanwhile, the move represents a fresh challenge and his first opportunity to lead a club on African soil.