Rachid Bouaouzan

Sparta Rotterdam and The Kokmeijer case

Born in Rotterdam to Moroccan parents, Bouaouzan started out his football at SVV/SMC before moving to Sparta Rotterdam, where he started his professional career. Bouaouzan made his debut in professional football, being part of the Sparta Rotterdam squad in the 2003–04 season. Following this, he extended his contract with the club. In his second season, while playing in the Eerste Divisie, Bouaouzan reached the Dutch news headlines due to a heavy foul on Niels Kokmeijer, his opponent playing for Go Ahead Eagles on 17 December 2004. Kokmeijer's leg was broken so badly that he was subsequently forced to retire from professional football. Sparta Rotterdam suspended Bouaouzan for the rest of the season, which was more than the ten-match ban the KNVB awarded him. Besides that he was taken to court by the Dutch government for battery, a unique moment in Dutch football history. Bouaouzan was sentenced to a conditional six months in jail. In April 2008, the highest Dutch court confirmed this. Furthermore, this led him facing bankruptcy after the court ordered him to pay compensation to Kokmeijer. Bouaouzan later reflected on his action, saying that he never injured anyone consciously. But Kokmeijer later disputed Bouaouzan's claim, maintaining the fact that he attacked him. Sparta Rotterdam qualified for the play-offs where Bouaouzan returned on the pitch and in the last and final play-off match, he scored the club's winning goal over…

Bouaouzan joined the Morocco national team in their preparation in October 2006 in the Netherlands. Earlier this year, he was called up to the Netherlands U21 but didn't make his debut for the U21 national team. Despite not getting call–up, Bouaouzan said: "So for me, Morocco is my home country. In fact, I think Morocco will go all the way this time and win the championship."

After his playing time came to an end, Bouaouzan made Netherlands media headlines when he was arrested and detained for drug and money laundering.

Helsingborgs IF

Allsvenskan: 2011 Svenska Cupen: 2010, 2011 Svenska Supercupen: 2011, 2012