Raja Casablanca's Leadership Shake-Up
In a significant development for Moroccan football, Raja Casablanca has officially ended its contractual relationship with Portuguese sporting director Rogério Matias and his assistant. This decision marks a critical second change in the club’s leadership within just one week, reflecting the mounting pressures faced by the organization in the early stages of the 2026-27 season.
The club confirmed the mutual agreement on Tuesday following a meeting with its sporting management team. In their statement, Raja Casablanca emphasized that both parties reached an amicable conclusion to terminate their contracts, effectively bringing Matias' brief tenure in Casablanca to a close. The club remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving its sporting objectives and fulfilling the expectations of its dedicated supporters.
Matias had joined Raja Casablanca in July with the aim of enhancing the club's sporting operations, focusing on a long-term strategy for recruitment, player development, and technical management. Despite his extensive experience in Portuguese football, including his previous role at Vitória Guimarães from 2022 to 2026, Matias faced challenges that ultimately led to his exit. The club’s struggles at the onset of the season have intensified scrutiny on its leadership, with fans increasingly questioning the recruitment strategies and the team's overall performance.
This departure occurred just one day after Raja Casablanca announced the exit of Spanish coach Paco Jemez, who was let go due to unsatisfactory results and team development that fell short of the club’s high expectations. Under Jemez, the team managed to secure only six points from their first five matches in the Botola Pro, achieving one victory, three draws, and one defeat. The final straw came with a disappointing 2-0 loss to RS Berkane, which marked Jemez's last match in charge.
The recent upheavals leave Raja Casablanca in search of new leadership across both its technical and sporting departments. As the club prepares for its upcoming Botola Pro fixture against AS FAR in Rabat, interim coach Abdelkrim Jinani is expected to guide the team through this transitional period. However, the club has yet to announce any replacements for Matias and his assistant, leaving fans eager for clarity on the future direction of their beloved team.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
