Moroccan soccer federation president Fouzi Lekjaa announced in a news conference, that Vahid Halilhodzic will be the new coach to lead the Atlas Lions. Halilhodzic will replace Herve Renard who stepped down after Morocco’s Atlas Lions were eliminated at the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations. The 67-year old Bosnian international striker previously led the Côte d’Ivoire FIFA World Cup to the 2010 World Cup, captained Algeria into the last-16 at the 2014 World Cup, and helped Japan qualify for the 2018 edition. This is also the coach’s second time molding a Moroccan soccer team. He led the Raja Casablanca team to the Championship League in 1997.
Halilhodzic’s monthly salary is reported to reach 80,000 Euros ($89,000 USD) per month and the conditions for his contract are high. “Failure to achieve any of these targets will automatically result in termination of the contract,” said Lekjaa. “It is a big responsibility to coach Morocco, a challenge and an honor. It’s the fourth time that I will try to take a team to a World Cup,” said Halilhodzic.