Who is Walid Regragui? Learn About His Transformative Tactics

When Morocco reached the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the world stood still. The man who led them forward was Walid Regragui. The Moroccan football manager and former national team defender took the country's team to the stars with a solid coaching reputation and brilliant tactical nous.

The Walid Regragui tactics became symbolic of the players' mentality, as he tailored them to perfection with intense pressing, tactical discipline and never compromising their creativity. His leadership skills transformed Morocco, and the Walid Regragui lineup remains at its peak heading to the 2026 World Cup.

Walid Regragui Bio

Walid Regragui is a Moroccan football coach and was born on September 23, 1975, in Corbeil-Essonnes, France. He represented Morocco internationally and played professionally in France and Spain during the early stages of his career. After his playing career, he successfully transitioned into a great manager, and Regragui gained prominence by helping Wydad Casablanca win the 2022 CAF Champions League.

He guided the Atlas Lions to a sensational fourth-place finish in the 2022 World Cup, and players like Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, and Yassine Bounou played a crucial part in Walid Regragui Morocco lineup.

Walid Regragui Tactics and Style of Play

Walid Regragui tactic for Morocco is basically built on discipline, structure and collective responsibility. It's not rocket science to understand that Morocco national football team doesn't possess the star power of nations like France, England or Argentina. They need team chemistry and focus on maintaining a compact defensive shape to outdo most teams.

Naturally, his team deployed a 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 system that prioritises organisation without sacrificing creativity in attack. They defend in sets from mid to low block and limit the space between the lines. As a result, the opponents go wide, where fullbacks and wingers double up aggressively and try to retain possession.

On the other hand, Walid Regragui lineup prioritises keeping possession while playing. They don't mind giving the ball to the opposition to create rapid chances on counterattack and exploit spaces behind the defence. With the best right back in the world currently, Hakimi, he stretches the opposition defence, creating spaces in the middle for other Moroccan strikers and midfielders to attack. The wide midfielders and even the fullbacks stretch the pitch, and the midfielders do a good job of screening the defence and recycling possession when necessary.

During Morocco's 2022 World Cup run, Walid Regragui Morocco lineup stopped multiple opposition teams, including Portugal, Spain and Belgium, by blending pragmatic defending with moments of controlled aggression. Apart from his structure, he constructed his team in a way that made them mentally strong and built the team on three core pillars: unity, resilience and belief. That identity helped them attract fans worldwide, and Morocco became a team to be feared.