Walid Regragui on Ecuador shortlist as former Morocco boss weighs South American move

Walid Regragui is under consideration for the Ecuador national team job, with the former Morocco coach interested in a first coaching role in South America, according to reports in Ecuador.

Since leaving his post with Morocco in March, Regragui has kept a notably low profile. But Ecuadorian journalist Roberto Bonafont reports that the 48-year-old is among the coaches being assessed by the Federacion Ecuatoriana de Futbol (FEF) as a possible successor to Sebastian Beccacece.

People close to Regragui are understood to have indicated that he would be open to taking charge of the Tricolor, provided talks between the parties progress satisfactorily.

Strong competition for Ecuador role

Regragui is not the only high-profile name on the FEF’s list. The federation is also looking at Portuguese coach Paulo Bento, Argentinians Marcelo Gallardo and Eduardo Dominguez, and Spanish managers Miguel Angel Ramirez and Robert Moreno.

The Ecuadorian federation is aiming to make an appointment before the second week of August. Officials want to give the new head coach enough time to prepare for the international windows scheduled for September, October and November.

Ecuador’s growing potential

The Ecuador job is regarded as an attractive project for Regragui, given the team’s recent trajectory and emerging talent pool.

At the 2026 World Cup, Ecuador reached the last 16, recording a notable victory against Germany despite suffering a group-stage defeat by Cote d’Ivoire. The South Americans fielded one of the youngest squads at the tournament, with an average age higher only than that of the Ivorians, making them the second-youngest team overall.

The national side already features several established players at elite European clubs, including Moises Caicedo of Chelsea, Willian Pacho of Paris Saint-Germain and Piero Hincapie of Arsenal.

Ecuador can also call upon a new wave of highly promising youngsters, such as Kendry Paez of River Plate, Patrik Mercado of Sevilla and Nilson Angulo of Sunderland. The team has earned a reputation for being strong and intense, but has at times lacked precision and cutting edge in the final third.

Regragui weighing next step

Regragui’s credentials are strong after a historic spell with Morocco. He led the Atlas Lions to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup the first African team to reach that stage and guided them to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title, a triumph that remains subject to the outcome of a case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).

He left his role with the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) earlier this year following an amicable agreement. Since then, he has largely stayed out of the public eye and has not taken another job in either African or European football.

A move to Ecuador would therefore mark not only a high-profile return to the international stage but also his first coaching experience outside the African and European continents.

For now, it remains to be seen whether Ecuador’s interest will develop into concrete negotiations and a formal offer to the former Morocco head coach.