Walid Regragui emerges as strong contender for RC Lens coaching job

Lens are considering former Morocco coach Walid Regragui as a potential replacement for Yannick Cahuzac, who was dismissed after just nine days in charge.

The French club confirmed Cahuzac’s departure on Thursday night following a disastrous week in which they suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions.

The final setback was a humiliating 9-1 home defeat by Como 1907 in the UEFA Champions League, a result that equalled the competition’s record for the heaviest defeat.

Cahuzac’s departure comes as Lens continue their search for a new manager following Pierre Sage’s exit.

Sage left the club for Crystal Palace in the summer and is currently considered the leading candidate to replace Cahuzac at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

However, Regragui has now emerged as another possible option for the French side.

The Moroccan has been without a managerial position since leaving the Morocco national team earlier this year.

According to Foot Mercato, Regragui has already held discussions with Lens executives as the club assess his suitability for the vacant managerial position.

Who is Walid Regragui? 

Walid Regragui is a Moroccan football manager and former professional player who rose to prominence after leading Morocco to an historic semi-final appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Born on 23 September 1975 in Corbeil-Essonnes, France, Regragui represented Morocco during his playing career before establishing himself as one of Africa’s leading coaches.

Playing career

Regragui began his professional football career in France, featuring for several clubs, including Toulouse, AC Ajaccio and Grenoble, before moving to Spanish side Racing Santander.

In the summer of 2009, he joined Moroccan club Moghreb Tétouan, bringing his playing career closer to its final chapter.

At international level, Regragui represented Morocco and was part of the team that reached the final of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia. Morocco eventually lost 2-1 to the hosts.

Coaching career

After retiring from professional football, Regragui transitioned into coaching, beginning his managerial journey as an assistant with the Moroccan national team in September 2012.

Fath Union Sport

His first major opportunity as a head coach came on 8 May 2014, when he was appointed manager of Fath Union Sport (FUS) ahead of the 2014/15 season.

He quickly made an impression, guiding the club to victory in the Moroccan Throne Cup in 2014. His performances earned him the Mars d’Or Coach of the Year award in March 2015.

Regragui remained in charge until 22 January 2020, when he left the club by mutual consent.

Wydad Athletic Club

On 10 August 2021, Regragui was appointed head coach of Wydad Athletic Club, one of Morocco’s biggest clubs.

He enjoyed an impressive debut season, leading Wydad to the 2021/22 Botola league title before achieving an even greater milestone in continental football.

On 30 May 2022, he guided Wydad to their third CAF Champions League crown after defeating defending champions Al Ahly in the final.

The triumph made him only the second Moroccan coach to win the competition, following Hussein Ammouta, who achieved the feat with Wydad in 2017.

His success also earned him international recognition. In December 2022, he was nominated for the IFFHS World’s Best Club Coach award for his achievements with Wydad. He eventually finished third, behind Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola.

Morocco national team

Regragui’s achievements at club level earned him a return to the Moroccan national team, with his appointment as head coach announced on 31 August 2022 following the departure of Vahid Halilhodžić.

He took charge of his first friendly match on 21 September 2022, guiding Morocco to a 1-0 victory over Madagascar.

However, his biggest test came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he masterminded one of the most remarkable campaigns in African football history.

Morocco progressed to the knockout stage for the first time since 1986 before eliminating Spain on penalties in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals.

That achievement made Morocco the first African and Arab nation to reach the last eight of a World Cup. Regragui also became the first African and Arab coach to guide a team to that stage.

The Atlas Lions continued their historic run by defeating Portugal 1-0 in the quarter-finals, becoming the first African and Arab team to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Their journey eventually ended with a 2-0 defeat against France on 14 December 2022. Morocco subsequently finished fourth after losing 2-1 to Croatia in the third-place play-off.

Regragui’s achievements earned him another IFFHS nomination, this time for the World’s Best National Coach award. He finished third behind Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni and France’s Didier Deschamps.

Record-breaking run and 2026 World Cup qualification

Regragui continued to strengthen Morocco’s position among the leading national teams in world football.

Between June 2024 and December 2025, Morocco recorded 19 consecutive international victories under his leadership, establishing one of the longest winning streaks in international football.

He also guided the Atlas Lions to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making Morocco the first African nation to secure a place at the tournament.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Regragui’s next major assignment was the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Morocco.

With expectations high on home soil, he guided the Atlas Lions to the final, where they faced Senegal in a controversial encounter.

Morocco were subsequently awarded a 3-0 victory after Senegal forfeited the final, adding another major chapter to Regragui’s managerial career.

However, on 5 March 2026, Regragui resigned from his position as Morocco head coach, bringing his tenure with the national team to an end.

His spell in charge will be remembered for transforming Morocco into a formidable international side and delivering an unprecedented World Cup semi-final appearance.