African coaches conquering Europe, Walid Regragui next on the list?

An emulation called Habib Beye
In recent years, African coaches have had opportunities in Europe, but often in second-tier clubs and lower divisions like Omar Daf (Senegal) in Amiens who has just separated from him after three years of collaboration, or for temporary temporary positions in the elite as was the case of Samba Diawara (Mali) at the head of Reims from February to June 2025 or previously of Nasser Larguet (Morocco) from February to March 2021 on the bench of Olympique Marseille.

The Senegalese Mbaye Leye, today assistant coach at Ghent, was principal at Seraing, at  Standard of Liège or even at Zulte Waregen. A lack of confidence that has lasted over the years, not the fault for a lack of competence since all these coaches – with the exception of Samba Diawara – have the UEFA Pro License.

This permanent hesitation when it comes to African coaches was broken by Habib Beye upon his arrival in Rennes in January 2025 as a firefighter on duty to save the Breton club from relegation. Mission he completed before leaving Stade Rennais on 9th February last to sign 9 days later (18th February) at OM. An incredible trajectory but above all a pioneer for young African coaches in search of legitimacy and reference in the leading clubs in Europe. Beye has shown the way and others are ready to walk in his footsteps.

Regragui, a resume that speaks for him
From Le National to Ligue 1, Habib Beye broke a glass ceiling for coaches from the continent. Even though he grew up in France and has never coached in Africa, they are currently the only African coaches with Moroccan Ahmed Kantari (Nantes) on the bench of a club in the European Top 5.

On the other hand, Walid Regragui has proven itself on the continent, starting with a position as assistant coach to Rachid Taoussi from 2012 to 2013 before taking the reins of FUS de Rabat in 2014 where he will sit a competitive team and win the championship during the 2015/16 season after the Coupe du Trône in 2014, before leaving in 2020.

That year, he will spend ten months (January-October) in Al-Duhail in Qatar and even win the championship, the Qatar Stars League. In August 2021, Walid Regragui returns to his home country in Morocco where he will manage this time Wydad Casablanca with whom he will do the CAF Championship - Champions League double during his only season before the call of the homeland in August 2022.

Four months before the World Cup in Qatar, Walid Regragui, who has perfect knowledge of Moroccan football, was able to unite the Atlas Lions group around his project and managed to achieve what no other African country has managed to do so far: reach half-finals of the World Cup. A historic first that has forged its legitimacy and strengthened its image on the international scene as one of the best tacticians of the continent.

After a disillusionment at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire (elimination in the eighth round), Walid Regragui managed, despite the host country’s pressure, to take Morocco to the final of the 2025 AFCON before losing (0-1) against Senegal by another young African coach, Pape Thiaw.

La Liga or the Premier League to start
A seductive game, an offensive vision and an interesting ability to adapt, these are the attributes of a team trained by Walid Regragui. Unfortunately tired of the very volcanic environment of the team after the defeat in the CAN final, the 50-year-old man decided to resign despite the prospect of the World Cup this summer.

In this logic, Foot Mercato indicates that Walid Regragui will not remain unemployed for long. Indeed, the Moroccan technician has keys in the Premier League and La Liga and could restart very quickly this summer. 

It remains to be seen now if Regragui will choose the intensity of the English championship or the beauty of the Spanish league whose culture is somewhat similar to that of Morocco. In any case, the 50-year-old technician advances with a flattering resume on a continent where African coaches often arrive anonymously.