Wydad AC

Wydad Athletic Club (Arabic: نادي الوداد الرياضي, Arabic pronunciation: [naːdiː‿l.wydaːd arrːiyːadˤiː]) commonly referred to as Wydad AC and known as Wydad, or simply as WAC, is a Moroccan sports club based in Casablanca. Wydad AC is best known for its professional football team that competes in Botola, the top tier of the Moroccan football league system, they are one of three clubs to have never been relegated from the top flight.

Wydad Atletic Club
Full nameWydad Athletic Club
Nickname(s)وداد الأمة (Wydad of Nation)[1]
وداد المقاومة (Wydad of Resistance)
القلعة الحمراء (The Red Castle)
الشياطين الحمر (The Red Devils)
Short nameWAC[2]
Founded8 May 1937 (8 May 1937)[3]
StadiumStade Mohammed V
Capacity45,891
Head coachAdil Ramzi
LeagueBotola
2022–23Botola, 2nd of 16
WebsiteClub website

Founded on 8 May 1937 by seven Moroccans belonging the national movement for independence, led by Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi. They initially focused on water polo to give indigenous Moroccans the right to access swimming pools before Mohamed Ben Lahcen Affani – also known by the nickname of "Père Jégo" ("Father Jégo") – created the football section in 1939, he was the first manager of the team. The club has traditionally worn a red home kit since inception.

Domestically, Wydad has won a record of 22 Moroccan league titles, 9 Moroccan Throne Cups and 4 Moroccan Elite Cup, becoming the most titled club in Morocco. In continental and international competitions, the club has won three CAF Champions Leagues, one African Cup Winners' Cup, one CAF Super Cup, one Afro-Asian Club Championship, one Mohammed V Cup, one Arab Club Champions Cup, one Arab Super Cup, three North African Championships, and one North African Cup

The club also competes in basketball, handball, field hockey, cycle sport, volleyball, and rugby.[4][5] The club holds many long-standing rivalries, most notably in the Casablanca Derby with Raja CA[6] and the Moroccan Classico with the capital side AS FAR.[7]

History

Creation and early Wydad (1937–1940)
Wydad in 1940

The origin of the establishment of Wydad Athletic Club on resistance the colonialism that was imposed by the French authorities during the era of protectorate in Morocco, since before the independence of Morocco, the port of Casablanca was surrounded by a large number of swimming pools that were dedicated to clubs and sports associations only, and the Europeans were the ones who can supervise them. In beginning of the year 1935, many Moroccan Muslims and Jews joined several clubs to take advantage of the private swimming pools, but they were soon expelled by the colonizer because of their fear of an increase in their numbers later, and from here came the idea of establishing a Moroccan club by Moroccans only, so that the club can benefit of the swimming pools and participate in water polo competitions.[8]

The idea of establishing Wydad Athletic Club was not as easy as it could be imagined, as all the members of the original core, including Hajj Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi and Hajj Dr. Abdellatif Benjelloun Touimi, suffered from the continued rejection and intransigence of the French authorities to the idea of establishing a “full Moroccan club”, which prompted them to resort to the Franco-Moroccan Association, in order to amend the matters related to registering the club's name, after which the General Resident in Morocco at the time, Maurice Nogues, personally intervened to allow the establishment of Wydad Athletic Club, but with specific conditions.[8]

Wydad (وِداد) is an Arabic word that means "love", "sincere affection.",[9] during the frequent meetings which led to the creation of the club, one of the founding members arrived late after watching the latest film of the legendary Egyptian actress and singer Umm Kulthum with the same name, though Latinized as Weddad, as it coincided with this answer that Zaghrouda set out from one of the neighboring houses to the meeting place, the attendees were optimistic about it, and Hajj Mohamed Ben Lahcen Affani expressed his support for choosing this name, but the intervention of some of the attendees led to a postponement for the final decision on the name of the club, except after the presence of a large number of managers and players, as the name was approved after holding a general gathering, the result was the suggestion and choice of the name "Wydad Athletic Club", as a name for the club without the inclusion of the word “Casablanca” because the club represents all Moroccans, not just the residents of the city of Casablanca.[8]

Wydad played its first game against defending champion USM Casablanca as part of the first day of the championship in what is a criterion of war in September 1939. This meeting was the first of Wydad ended in defeat with a score of two goals to one. The first scorer was Abdelkader Lakhmiri. During this first season Wydad it was not a championship that was played but a true test of war called cutting war because of the Second World War. The first edition of this competition was played so in the context of the 1939–40 season and ended with a victory for the USM Casablanca facing the new team what Wydad. One who had played his first match against USM and had also faced rematch is still faced in the final after an incredible journey that has to qualify. The meeting was ended with a score of 1–0 at Stade Philippe to Casablanca. 1939–40: Champion of Chaouia League 1940: Winner of Moroccan Super Cup 1940: Runner-up of Moroccan Cup

The following season was also a criterion of war except that this time Wydad fails the same course as in the previous season. The Reds began the competition in a group comprising a total of nine groups or they managed to skilled in the finals. The final phase started from the quarter-finals where finally, the WAC is beaten by the Olympic Khouribga to score a 1–0. And finally. 1940–41: Runner-up of Chaouia League.

Promotion and Honour Division (1941–1947)
Wydad in 1942

After playing two seasons in cutting the war, the French authorities under the orders of the Vichy regime decided to play the championship again at war. Despite the very good performance of Wydad, the French authorities decided to Wydad play in the second division and not first. One of the main reasons is the fact that the federation at the time was managed by teams of 1st Division. Despite these injustices, Wydad managed to be the first in their pool and in the context of a game between the dam at Ittihad Ribati, he succeeds in beating up the latter by a goal to nil. For fear that Wydad up in the first division, the federation decided to play another game the opponent this time in the Athletic Union of Meknes. This encounter was played behind closed doors in Meknes and during the month of Ramadan. The team was composed meknassis majority of non-Muslims opposed to Wydad. But finally Wydad thanks to a goal from Ben Messaoud to 12 minute first successful rising after receiving a letter from the federation confirming the rise in 1st division. 1941–42: Champion of Moroccan Championship D2 1941–42: Runner-up of Chaouia League.

The next season after winning the championship promotion honor is the 2nd level football league in Morocco and after winning his matches dams, Wydad newly promoted division plays of honor is 'equivalent of first division football league in Morocco. During this season, Wydad had a good run, finishing in the top three of their group to play the final round, which begins from the second round. And after a very good run, Wydad reached the final of the chicken and confronts the USM Casablanca club already encountered in regional chickens. Wydad fails to win his first title in this competition and was beaten on the score of 2–0. 1942–43: Champion of Chaouia League, Runner-up of Moroccan Championship.

During the season 1943–44, the red and white ends the year with a balance of the quarter-finals after several victories, the club face Fedala score on the river 2–0. Also noteworthy during this season package of USM Casablanca.

In 1944–45, the club managed the final qualification in the pool but was eliminated by the Association Sportive Marrakech Marrakech often called SAM despite a victory in the second round against the ASM score of 3–0.

The 1945–46 season is one of the best in the club since its inception as Wydad won the regional championship with a total of more than 62 points or 19 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw. After winning the title, Wydad qualifies for final round where he was defeated by the USM Casablanca final score of 3–1. Despite this defeat, the balance of the season is rather positive.

During the 1946–47 season, the club honors its first participation in the North African Cup but failed to move beyond sixteenth-finals following a defeat club Fedala the most minimal scores a 1–0. In the league, the WAC failed to win the title.

Early titles and independence (1947–1956)
Wydad team in 1947
Wydad AC in 1955

It will take more than nine years for Wydad to finally win its first championship.[10] In a group of eight clubs, Wydad played fourteen matches, won six, lost two and drawn six. Moroccan Iyad El Baz helped win Wydad's first ever trophy. During the same season Wydad participates in the North African Championship with the title won and even managed to win by beating the US Athletic score of 4–2.

Wydad also took part in the 1948–49 season of the North African Cup, which is a competition organized by the Union of North African Football that it is made up of five leagues is that of the Morocco, Tunisia, Algiers, Oran and Constantine. The competition began for Wydad in the knockout final against Red Star of Algiers. The match ended in a victory for Wydad AC score of 3–1. Then, in the quarter-finals, he must face the USM Bone or he managed to climb in the semi-finals with a victory on the score of 2–1. Continuing his journey, he must then face the Olympic Hussein Dey, club league Algiers. This meeting was a massacre ending with a victory on the score of 3–0 while the club qualified for the finals is a club and even Casablanca Moroccan who managed to beat the Sports Club Hammam Lif on the modest score of 1–0. this club is in fact the US Athletic. The final was held in Casablanca in 1949, is opposed both clubs are Wydad AC that and the US Athletic and after 90 minutes of play, Wydad won the competition for the first time in its history with a victory on the score of 2–1.[11] During the same season they also managed to win a Championship North African football when editing played as mini-league since it was the team with the most points wins the championship, they also won another championship,[12] so it is the first club which has tripled something which nobody has done throughout history.

During the following season Wydad fails to succeed on a hat-trick but doubled. It won the Moroccan championship for the third time in its history and a row with a total of more than 57 points, and won the championship of North African football by beating the Athletic Union Muslim Oran on the score 4–0 in Algiers on 28 May 1950.[13]

During the 1950–51 season, Wydad continues its momentum by winning the national championship but was beaten in the final of the African Cup North face SC Bel-Abbes on the score 1–0.[14]

During the last season played before independence, Wydad won his fifth and last championship title before Moroccan independence.[15] Participating teams in this championship was twelve in number counting Wydad. During the same season, the Reds were beaten in the final of the championship of North Africa to Casablanca in the face of Esperance Sportive de Guelma score of 2–1.

After independence (1956–1960)

Morocco becomes independent, and the WAC receives the honorary Resistance Card with the number 1 by his royal majesty Mohammed V. Before launching the first Moroccan championship for the 1956/57 season, the committee decides to organize a first competition called Independence Cup, and classify the teams in the divisions. This cup is won by Wydad AC which has become the number 1 club in Morocco. The 38th edition of the championship (the first after independence) is won by the WAC (title holder) with the Kawkab of Marrakech as its runner-up.[16] The same season in the cup, Wydad qualified for the final against the Mouloudia Club of Oujda. The match ends with a score of 1–1, King Mohammed V, Crown Prince Hassan II and WAC founder Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi who are present in this final, decide to give the cup to Mouloudia Oujda. because he scored the first goal.

During the following season, the WAC finished vice-champion of Morocco with 69 points, one less than the champion, the Kawkab of Marrakech. The Wydad who was first loses all his points won against the USM Casablanca following the general forfeit of it and also loses in the final of the Morocco Cup against the same opponent of last season on the score of 2 goals to 1.

During the following season, Wydad is still vice-champion behind the Casablanca star while in the Throne Cup, the WAC is eliminated in the round of 16 against the FAR of Rabat, winners of this competition. WAC forward Mustapha Khalfi finished top scorer in Botola with 21 goals.

The following season, Wydad reached fourth place with only one point less than the top three. In the Cup, and after defeating Essaouira with a score of one goal to zero, the WAC was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Mouloudia d'Ouejda.

The 1960s

The first 1960/61 season ended badly with a 7th place in the league, in the cup the WAC was able to climb into the final by defeating the future champion of this season, the FAR of Rabat, on the score of two goals to one. But Wydad has always missed its finals since 1956 and faces last season's champion Kenitra Athletic Club. The Wydad was beaten with the score of a goal to zero on April 24, 1960, at the Stade d'honneur in Casablanca.

The following season, the WAC finished 6th in the Botola classification, and was beaten in the eighth finals of the Morocco Cup against Mouloudia d'Ouejda with the score of 2 goals to 0.

In the 1962/63 season, the WAC again finished 6th in Botola, and reached the semi-final of the Morocco Cup eliminated by KAC Marrakech.

The following season, WAC was again 6th in Botola, and was a finalist in the Morocco Cup against KAC Marrakech.

In the 1964/65 season, the WAC finished in the championship in 5th place, and was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Cup.

It was not until the 1965/66 season to see the WAC champion of Morocco for the 7th time, with a total of 57 points.[17] As the team was eliminated in the eighth finals of the Morocco Cup against MAS Fez, it took fifteen years to return to the Moroccan Super Cup against COD Meknès (winner of the Cup). The WAC participated for the first time in its history in the Mohammed V Cup where it finished 4th, after elimination against Real Madrid in the semi-final with the score of 2 goals to 0.

The 1966–67 season ended with a 4th place in the championship, and an elimination in the quarter-final of the Morocco Cup against the sports association of the royal armed forces.

The following season the WAC will finish 8th in Botola, and eliminated in the round of 16 of the Cup against the same opponent, the sports association of the royal armed forces.

During the 1968–69 season, the WAC returned to the Botola podium, winning its 8th title of Champion of Morocco with a total of 73 points, including 16 victories, 11 draws and 3 lost matches.[18] But unfortunately, he was eliminated in the second round of the Cup.

Finally the Morocco Cup (1970–1979)
Wydad team in 1979

We had to wait thirty-one years to see the WAC winner of the Morocco Cup, and it was against RS Settat that the reds won the title with the score of a goal to zero. Compared to the 1960s, the emperor of Moroccan football won three times the Botola and three times the Cup as well as the Mohammed V Cup thanks to legendary players such as Larbi Aherdane, Ezzaki Badou, Aziz Bouderbala, Petchou or Abdelmajid Shaita.

In the 1969–70 season, Wydad finished 5th at Botola, winner of the Cup.

1970–71: 7th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup.

1971–72: vice-champion of Botola, 1/8 final of the Cup.

1972–73: 9th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup.

1973–74: 5th in Botola, 1/4 final of the cup.

1974–75: 9th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup, winner of the Green Market Cup.

1975–76: Moroccan champion, 9th coronation, 1/8 Cup final.[19]

1976–77: Champion of Morocco, 10th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, 3rd of the Mohammed V Cup.[20]

1977–78: Champion of Morocco, 11th coronation, winner of the 2nd coronation Cup.[21]

1978–79: 3rd at Botola, Cup winner, 3rd coronation, Mohammed V Cup winner.

The revival (1980–1989)

In the first season, the WAC finished runner-up in Morocco with only 1 point difference from the winner, and won the Cup for the second time in its history, and regained the Botola podium for the 12th time in 1986, and participates for the first time in the CAF Champions League, since it is the first Moroccan club to win the Arab Cup of Champions Clubs in 1989 and a 3rd Cup of Morocco in the same year.

In the 1979–80: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/8 Cup final, winner of the Meknes International Tournament.

1980–81: 4th at Botola, Winner of the 4th coronation Cup, winner of the Mohamed Benjelloun Trophy.

1981–82: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/8 final of the Cup.

1982–83: 3rd at Botola, 1/8 Cup final, winner of the Independence Tournament.

1983–84: 5th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup.

1984–85: 4th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final.

1985–86: Moroccan champion 12th coronation, 2nd round of the Cup.[22]

1986–87: 4th at Botola, 2nd round of the Cup, 2nd round of the Champions League.

1987–88: 4th at Botola, semi-finalist of the Cup, winner of the Pescara International Cup.

1988–89: 5th at Botola, winner of the 5th coronation Cup, winner of the Arab Cup of Champions Clubs.[23]

Golden Era (1990–1999)

During this decade, the WAC won all possible competitions, with two consecutive victories in Botola, the CAF Champions League, the Arab Super Cup, the 15th coronation of champion of Morocco, the Afro-Asian Super Cup, the 8th Cup of Morocco in its history.

1989–90: Moroccan champion, 13th coronation, 2nd round of the Cup.[24]

1990–91: Moroccan champion, 14th coronation, 1/4 final of the Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League.[25]

1991–92: 3rd at Botola, 1/8 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Champions League,[26] winner of the Arab Super Cup.[27]

1992–93: finalist of the CAF Supercup,[28] champion of Morocco,[29] 15th coronation, 1/4 Cup final, winner of the Afro-Asian Cup.[30]

1993–94: vice-champion of Morocco, winner of the Cup, 6th coronation, 2nd round of the Champions League.

1994–95: 7th coronation, 5th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final.

1995–96: 3rd at Botola, 1/4 Cup final, winner of the Dallas International Cup.

1996–97: vice-champion of Morocco, winner of the Cup, 7th coronation.

1997–98: 3rd at Botola, Cup winner, 8th coronation, semi-finalist of the African Cup Winners' Cup.

1998–99: winner of the Moroccan Supercup, 8th coronation, 5th at Botola, 1/16 Cup final, CAF Cup finalist.

Decline (2000–2014)
The Wydad team in 2011
The Wydad team in 2012, with Yassine Bounou

During this decade, the Red Devils have won fewer titles than before. It was a bad chapter in the history of the club.

1999–00: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/16 Cup final, 1/8 CAF Cup final.

2000–01: 7th at Botola, winner of the 9th coronation Cup, 1/4 final CAF Cup.

2001–02: vice-champion of Morocco, 1/16 final of the Cup, winner of the African Cup Winners' Cup after defeating Asante Kotoko S.C.[31]

2002–03: Finalist of CAF Super Cup, 3rd at Botola, Cup finalist, semi-finalist of the African Cup Winners' Cup.

2003–04: 3rd at Botola, Cup finalist ,[32] intermediate round Confederation Cup.

2004–05: 3rd at Botola, 1/16 Cup final, 1/4 final of the Arab Cup.

2005–06: Moroccan champion 16th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, 1/4 final of the Arab Cup.

2006–07: 4th at Botola, semi-finalist of the Cup, 2nd round of the CAF Champions League.[33]

2007–08: 7th at Botola, 1/8 Cup final, Arab Cup finalist after a 2–0 loss to ES Sétif.

2008–09: 4th at Botola, 1/4 Cup final, Arab Cup finalist after a 2–1 loss to Espérance Sportive de Tunis.

2009–10: Moroccan champion 17th coronation, 1/16 final of the Cup.[34]

First Champions League in 25 years (2017)
Wydad starting 11 vs Al Ahly in the second leg of 2017 CAF Champions League Final

From the start of the second decade of the 20th century, the WAC returned to the Botola podium by winning its 17th title, then in 2015, 2017 and 2019, as well as the CAF Champions League in 2017, and the Super Cup of CAF in 2018.

2014–15: Moroccan champion 18th coronation, 1/8 Cup final.[35]

2015–16: vice-champion of Morocco

2016–17: Moroccan champion 19th coronation, 1/8 final of the Cup, winner of the CAF Champions League.[36][37]

2017–18: vice-champion of Morocco, semi-finalist of the Cup, 1/4 final of the CAF Champions League, 1/8 final of the Arab Cup, winner of the 2018 CAF Super Cup.[38]

Second star and Radès final (2019)

2018–19: Moroccan champion 20th coronation, 1/16 of the Cup, finalist of the CAF Champions League after a devastating VAR problem that gifted Espérance Sportive de Tunis the win.[39][40]

2019–20: vice-champion of Morocco, Semi-finalist of the Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League.[41]

On 14 July 2021, Wydad defeated Mouloudia Oujda 0–2 at the Honneur Stadium to clinch their 21st league title, with three games left in the season,[42] finalist of the moroccan Throne Cup, semi-finalist of the CAF Champions League.[43]

Third Champions League title (2022–present)

One day after the club's 85th anniversary, Wydad defeated Atlético Petróleos de Luanda 4–2 on aggregate (3–1 away and 1–1 at home) to advance to their 5th Champions League final and the 3rd one in 6 years.[44][45] On 30 May 2022, in a rematch of 2017 final, Wydad AC beat defending champions Al Ahly in the final to be crowned champions of Africa for the third time in its history, thanks to a brace from the Man of the Match, Zouhair El Moutaraji.[46][47] During this campaign under Walid Regrgui role, the Red Castle has achieved many national records in the CAF Champions League: First Moroccan team to win an away semi-final match, most wins for a Moroccan team in a single season (9 wins), most goals scored in a single season (28 goals), and first Moroccan team to go undefeated for 9 straight games in a single season.[47] With this win, Wydad will play in the first-ever all-Moroccan CAF Super Cup against 2021–22 CAF Confederation Cup winners, RS Berkane.[48] On 21 July 2022, Wydad was elected as the best Club of the year in the 2022 CAF Awards.[49]

In the 2022–23 CAF Champions League, Wydad qualified to the knockout stages after finishing top in the group stages winning four matches, drawing one and losing one.[50][51] They faced Simba and won on penalties.[52] They won Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-final, qualifying them to their 6th champions league final.[53]

Crest
Wydad AC crest history
  • 1937–1940
    1937–1940
  • 1940–1950
    1940–1950
  • 1950–1990
    1950–1990
  • 1990–present
    1990–present

Home stadium
Main article: Stade Mohammed V
Stade Mohammed V
ملعب محمد الخامس
The stadium on a matchday
Former namesStade Marcel Cerdan (1955–1956)
Stade d'Honneur (1956–1981)
LocationRue al-Azrak Ahmed, Maârif, Casablanca, Morocco
OwnerCity of Casablanca
Capacity45,891 (previously 67,000)
Record attendance110,000 (Morocco vs Ghana, 1997)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened6 March 1955
Renovated1981, 2000, 2007, July 2015
Tenants
Raja CA
Wydad AC
Morocco national football team

Stade Mohammed V is the home stadium of both Wydad and Raja. It was called the Stade Marcel Cerdan from 1955 to 1956 and the Stade d'Honneur from 1956 to 1981. It was inaugurated on 6 March 1955 and renovated three times in 1981, 2000 and 2007. It is part of a large sports complex in the heart of Casablanca, specifically in the up-scale neighbourhood of Maârif.

It has a capacity of 67,000 spectators (reduced to more than 80,000 in 2000), not counting the North and South stands that have no seats. In 1997, 110,000 spectators showed up to the stadium in a match of the Moroccan national team against Ghana. In 2007, the stadium was equipped with a semi-artificial turf which meets international standards.

Supporters

The Wydad is the most popular team in Morocco, with a fan base counted in millions all around the world. Wydad's ultras group is called "Ultras Winners", commonly referred to as "Ultras Winners 2005" in reference to the year of creation. With "Together forever" as their slogan, they are renowned all over the world for their unconditional love and support for the team, as well as their spectacular displays at each game. With members all around the world, the Ultras Winners has a network of branches, called sections, in every continent with cells in each country, allowing the members to remain connected and engaged. All around Morocco, and wherever the team plays internationally, one can find tags with the mentions "UW05", "Win's 05" or "Winners05" as well as stickers from the group.

In 2015, Wydad Casablanca ranked the beat “Tifo” in the world by French magazine La Grinta.[54]

The "Winners 2005" was voted "World's best ultras" three times, in 2015, 2019, and 2022 by Ultras World magazine.[55]

Supporters of Wydad AC in the Stade Mohammed V
Type of group Name Creation date
Ultras group Ultras Winners 2005 13 November 2005
Fans Association Rouge & Blanc 2000 (Dissolved in 2007)
Fans Association Al Bayet Al Ahmar 2002
Fans Association Tawasoul 2007
Fans Association Association Anssare Wydad Al Ouma 2010

Statistics and records

First match

• First league match: Wydad 2–0 Stade Marocain (1956–57)

• First African match: Wydad 3–1 ASC Police (1987 African Cup of Champions Clubs)

• First Arab match: Al-ittifaq 0–2 Wydad (1989 Arab Club Champions Cup)

Biggest win

• Biggest league win: Wydad AC 7–0 Hassania Agadir (1958–59)

• Biggest cup win: Amal Tiznit 0–5 Wydad AC (2015–16)

• Biggest African win: Wydad AC 6–0 Rivers United FC (2022–23 CAF Champions League)

• Biggest Arab win: Wydad AC 4–0 Al-wehdat (2008–09 Arab Champions League)

Statistics in Botola

• Record number of games won in one season: 23 games (1985–86)

• Record number of points in one season: 93 points (1985–86)

• Record goals scored in season: 58 goals (1985–86)

• Record for lowest number of goals conceded: 8 goals (2002–03)

• Record of consecutive games won: 9 games (1990–91)

• Record number of most away wins in one season: 14 games (1985–86)

• Record for lowest number of draws: 5 games (1986–87)

• Record for lowest number of defeats: 1 game (1977–78)

Sports records

• Record for most titles in Morocco: 50

• Record for most national titles: 37

• Record for the highest number of titles in the Moroccan Championship: 22

• Record for the highest number of vice-champion titles in the Moroccan Championship: 14

• 2nd highest number of Throne Cup: 9 titles

• Record number of finals in the Throne Cup: 15

• Record for the highest number of consecutive seasons in the Moroccan league: 77

• Only to have never left the championship since 1942

• National record number of Champions league finals: 6

• The first team to win the Moroccan league after independence: 1956–57

• The first team to win the Domestic Double (Botola, Throne Cup): 1978

• The first and only Moroccan, Arab and African team to win the Mohammed V Cup: 1979

• The first Moroccan team to win the Arab Club Champions Cup: 1989

• The first and only Moroccan team to win the Arab Super Cup: 1992

• The first Moroccan team to win the Afro-Asian Cup: 1993

• The first and only Moroccan team to win the African Cup Winners' Cup: 2002

Individual sports records

• Largest number of top scorers in the Championship, 17 times with 13 scorers: Chtouki (1948 ,1955), Abdesslam (1949), Driss (1950), Khalfi (1951 ,1959), Chrif (1978), Mjidou (1984), Nader (1986, 1987, 1989), Fertout (1993), Evouna (2015), Jebor (2017), El Kaabi (2021), Mbenza (2022), Sambou (2023)

• Aziz Bouderbala is the player who win the most titles in the Throne Cup: 4 titles

• Moussa Ndao is the first foreigner to score in a Throne Cup final: 1989

• Abdelkhalek Saber is the first and only player to score three goals in a Throne Cup final: 1978

• Abdelkhalek Saber is the player who scored the most goals in the Throne Cup finals: 4 goals

• Hassan Nader is among the 4 players who achieved the highest number of championship's top scorer: 3 times

• Badou Zaki is the only goalkeeper who won the African Ballon d'Or: 1986

Nationalistic connotation of the club

Wydad has embodied the struggle of Moroccan people against the French occupation, so much so that in all the soccer fields of Morocco where Wydad played was encouraged by thousands of fans. Unlike other clubs like the Racing Casablanca or the Union Sportive Marocaine (USM), the Wydad was composed mostly of Moroccan footballers (10 Moroccan players out of 11 was the maximum allowed by the regulations) and in some way was considered by the supporters Moroccans, a Moroccan national: through sport and Wydad, the Moroccans could symbolically defeat the occupier. This quality was specific to Wydad and no other Moroccan club can boast this status before independence. The Wydad was the "standard-bearer" of Morocco wherever he played. In a North African Cup game in Algeria, the Moroccan Wydad players refused to play the race because the Moroccan flag was not hoisted next to the French one: the game did not start until the organizers decided to raise the flag of Morocco next to the French tricolor. An anecdote that shows how the sense of the homeland was an important value for Wydad players goes back to those years: a player of Wydad, Abdeslam, during the pre-game match urinated in the direction of the musicians who played the Marseillaise.

The great victories of the Wydad in front of the teams owned by the French protectorate like the USM were experienced as a national holiday by all Moroccans. No coincidence that the crown prince to the throne of the Kingdom of Morocco, Hassan II was the main supporter of the team and did not hesitate, during the end of the first times of the games, to go down in the locker room to encourage the players of Wydad, who were considered by him and called "Moroccan troops".

Honours
Wydad Athletic Club honours[56]
Type Competition Titles Winning seasons
Domestic Botola[57] 22 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1955, 1957, 1966, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993, 2006, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022
Moroccan Throne Cup[58] 9 1970, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001
Continental CAF Champions League[59] 3 1992, 2017, 2022
CAF Super Cup[60] 1 2018
African Cup Winners' Cup[61] 1 2002
Worldwide Afro-Asian Club Championship[62] 1 1993
Mohammed V Cup[63] 1 1979
Regional Arab Club Champions Cup[64] 1 1989
Arab Super Cup[65] 1 1992
North African Cup 1 1949
North African Championship 3 1948, 1949, 1950
North African Super Cup 3 1948, 1949, 1950
Other Moroccan Elite Cup 4 1945, 1948, 1951, 1955
Season Opening Cup 4 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951

Performance in CAF competitions
Main article: Wydad AC in international football

Rivalries

Casablanca Derby
Main article: Casablanca Derby
The giant shirts of Raja CA and Wydad CA in 2008

The Casablanca Derby (Arabic: ديربي الدارالبيضاء) is a derby between the Moroccan football clubs Raja and Wydad. Matches are played in the Stade Mohamed V, often containing a fierce and vibrant crowd.

The Casablanca Derby has extensive national media coverage and is a topic of debate for several days before and after the match between the fans of both clubs, whether in the streets, schools or workplace. The first match between the two rival was in 1956 in which Raja won 1–0.[66][67]

In 1978, Raja players withdrew from the match against Wydad during the last 10 minutes of the second-half because they were mistreated after conceding a penalty with a red card to their goalkeeper. Raja players did not accept the referee's decision and left the stadium by order of their captain Mohamed Fakhir, while Pitchou sat on the ball and waited with passion to score this penalty but Raja players refused to continue the match. The game ended by a score of 1–0 for Wydad.[68]

In 1996, Raja defeated Wydad 5–1 in the Moroccan Throne Cup quarts-finals. This score is the highest between the two rivals.

On 24 May 2006, there was a fierce competition between the two rivals to clinch the league title. Raja scored first with a penalty by Abdellatif Jrindou, that result would have given Raja the title; but at the end of the match (at the 90+6 minute), a staggering strike from a long distance by Hicham Louissi gave Wydad the draw needed to win the league for the 16th time after 13 years of the last cup.[69]

On November 2019, the two rivals met in the second round of the Arab Club Championship. This was the first time that the derby took place in a non-local competition. The first game ended 1–1,[70] with Wydad leading by away goals. The second leg was one of if not the most epic match in derby history, with Wydad going up 4–1 with 15 minutes to play and Raja coming back to score in the 94th minute to make it 4–4, with Raja progressing on away goals.[71] This is the record for most combined goals in derby history but the match is also notable for its extraordinary atmosphere, with numerous Tifos being displayed and fireworks and flares going off throughout the match,[72][73] the latter of which there were so many it looked at times that the stands were on fire.[74]

Players

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Morocco MAR Mehdi Maftah
2 MF Morocco MAR Oussama Mahrous
3 MF Morocco MAR Anas Serrhat
4 DF Morocco MAR Amine Aboulfath
5 MF Morocco MAR Yahya Jabrane (captain)
6 MF Morocco MAR Houmam Baaouch
7 FW Morocco MAR Zouhair El Moutaraji
8 MF Morocco MAR Ismail Moutaraji
10 FW Libya LBY Hamdou Elhouni
11 FW Morocco MAR Mohamed Ounajem
12 GK Morocco MAR Taha Mourid
13 MF Morocco MAR Abdellah Haimoud
14 DF Morocco MAR Yahia Attiyat Allah
15 DF Morocco MAR Hamza Regragui
16 DF Morocco MAR Jamal Harkass
17 MF Algeria ALG Zakaria Draoui
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Morocco MAR Soufyan Ahannach
19 FW Morocco MAR Montasser Lahtimi (on loan from Trabzonspor)
20 DF Algeria ALG Ilyes Chetti
21 FW Morocco MAR Charki El Bahri
22 DF Morocco MAR Ayoub El Amloud
23 FW Morocco MAR Hicham Boussefiane
25 DF Morocco MAR Amine Farhane
26 DF Morocco MAR Hicham Ait Brayem
27 FW Senegal SEN Bouly Sambou
29 FW Morocco MAR Imad Khannouss
30 FW Morocco MAR Saifeddine Bouhra
32 GK Morocco MAR Youssef El Motie
34 FW Morocco MAR Salaheddine Benyachou
35 DF Democratic Republic of the Congo COD Arsène Zola
40 GK Morocco MAR Boubacca

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player

Personnel

Current technical staff
Position Staff
Head coach Morocco Adil Ramzi
1st assistant coach Morocco Alami Ahannach
Goalkeeping coach Morocco Rachid Mekkaoui
Performance Analysis coach Morocco Mohamed Karam
Fitness coach Morocco Idriss Saissi

Management
Position Name
PresidentSaid Naciri
Vice President / Disciplinary CommissionIdriss Benhima
Jamal RahmaniVice President
Vice PresidentOthmane Chrif Alami
Deputy Secretary GeneralMaati Warit
Legal CommissionSalaheddine Chenguiti
General TreasurerNouredine Benkiran
Assistant TreasurerAbdelkader Kadiri Hassani
Organizing committeeRamzi Berrada
Committee and Strategy and DevelopmentIdris Slaoui
Infrastructure Commission, human and material resourcesMohamed Gayate
Commission Rules and RegulationsSalaheddine Aboulghali
Marketing and Communications CommitteeKarim Benchekroune
Commission for External RelationsOtmane Cherif Alami
Commission Technical TeamHafid El Akram
Finance CommissionKarim Fath
Commission and media relationsRachid Chrifi Alaoui
Commission Fair PlayAmina Lamrani
Women's CommissionFatima Aouam

Managers

Presidents

Notes
  1. Bettache had his first spell started from 1972; then at his second spell, he won three consecutive league titles: 1975–1976, 1976–1977 and 1977–1978.[75]

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