Abdeslam Ouaddou

Ouaddou was born in Alnif, Morocco. He started his footballing career quite late, at the age of 21. In the summer of 2001, Ouaddou was signed by newly promoted Premier League club Fulham for £8 million, on a four-year contract. However, Ouaddou did not settle in England and spent the last two years of his contract on loan at Rennes, before joining the French club permanently once his contract expired. In summer 2006, Ouaddou signed for Olympiacos. After disappointing appearances with the team, he was relegated to the bench. On 7 December 2006, he asked Olympiacos to release him free because he felt homesick and had some family problems. The club's directors agreed and Ouaddou will return to France. On 1 January 2007, the opening day of the January transfer window, Ouaddou joined Valenciennes FC on a free transfer. After one season with the club however, he transferred to AS Nancy for a fee of £150,000. He was voted the club's best signing for the 2008–09 campaign. On 30 June 2010, Ouaddou left Nancy after a dispute with the Ligue 1 outfit. He had a deal until 2012 but left after the club decided to sack him for gross misconduct, while the player wanted to cancel his contract. In 2010, he played for Al-Duhail SC in the Qatar Stars League, eventually winning the league championship. It was announced on 8 August 2011, that Qatar SC had signed him for a two-year deal. He commented on the move, stating "I'm more than pleased to have extended my stay in the Qatar Stars League and…

Between 2000 and 2009, Ouaddou made 58 appearances for the Morocco national team scoring three goals.

International goals

Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ouaddou goal.

Ouaddou, once captain of Morocco's national team, has faced accusations of betrayal and espionage after joining Algeria's national football team as an apprentice coach in 2020. This move ignited tensions amid the ongoing Western Sahara conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front, leading to social media attacks branding him a "traitor" and racist insults. Ouaddou has cited a lack of response from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to his coaching requests as a factor in his decision, as well as his desire to learn alongside the "best African coach," Djamel Belmadi.

Orlando Pirates

As of June 2025, Ouaddou is the head coach of Orlando Pirates F.C., a top-flight club in South Africa's Premier Soccer League. Prior to this appointment, he served as head coach of Marumo Gallants F.C.. He won his first trophy in the South African top flight when he won the 2025 MTN 8 just days after a car accident involving him and five other members of the Pirates technical team. He won his second trophy the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup and became the second Pirates coach after Ruud Krol to win the top 8 and knockout competition in the same season. At the 2025–26 South African Premiership awards he was awarded the coach of the season.

Player

Fulham

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002 Olympiacos

Super League Greece: 2006–07 Al-Duhail SC

Qatar Stars League: 2010-11 Morocco

Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2004

Manager

AS Vita Club

Coupe du Congo: 2024 Orlando Pirates

South African Premiership: 2025–26 MTN 8: 2025 Carling Black Label Cup: 2025 Individual

2025–26 South African Premiership: Coach of the Season