Engineer, lifelong fan, now Wydad president: Ibrahim Al-Asri’s story

Wydad Athletic Club have entered a new era after electing 32-year-old Ibrahim Al-Asri as the youngest president in the history of one of Morocco’s most successful football clubs.

Al-Asri emerged victorious during the club’s elective general assembly, where he defeated Yassine Saadallah and Anas Karami following the resignation of the previous board led by Hisham Ait Mana.

His appointment comes at a crucial moment for the Casablanca giants, who are seeking to restore stability and end a four-season wait for silverware.

From engineer to Wydad president

Unlike many of Wydad’s previous presidents, who came from prominent business and political circles, Al-Asri had maintained a relatively low public profile before taking charge of the club.

The civil engineering graduate studied at the International University of Casablanca before building a career in the construction and public works sector.

He began working as a site engineer within the G3C Group and steadily rose through the company, eventually being appointed general manager of G3 Casa, one of the group’s subsidiaries, in 2023.

Although new to leading the club, Al-Asri is no stranger to Wydad’s internal structures, having previously served on the management board led by former president Abdelmajid Al-Barnaki.

Lifelong connection to Wydad

Al-Asri’s ties to Wydad stretch back to his childhood.

He was not only a supporter of the club but also played in Wydad’s youth football school, giving him a close understanding of the institution he now leads.

The new president also maintains strong relationships with several former Wydad players, including Idriss Fettouhi and Achraf Bencharki, and hopes to draw on the experience of former club stars as part of his long-term plans.

Rebuilding a fallen giant

Al-Asri takes charge of a club that has endured years of instability both on and off the pitch, with frequent changes in leadership failing to restore Wydad’s dominance in Moroccan and African football.

During his election campaign, he outlined plans to rebuild the club by prioritising technical and administrative stability.

Among his proposals is the appointment of Uruguayan coach Daniel Carreño as head coach, while he also hopes to bring back former Wydad players Yahya Jabrane and Ayman Hassouni to strengthen the squad and restore the club’s identity.

Results will define his presidency

Despite becoming the youngest president in Wydad’s history, Al-Asri knows his age will offer little protection from the expectations that come with leading one of Africa’s biggest clubs.

His immediate challenge will be to turn his vision into results on the pitch as Wydad look to reclaim their place among Morocco’s and Africa’s elite after four seasons without a major trophy.