AZAM Football Club have officially announced the appointment of Rachid Taoussi as their new head coach on a one-year contract.

Taoussi (pictured) will be assisted by Badr Driss (assistant coach), Ouajou Driss (fitness coach), and Rachid El Mekkaoui (goalkeeper coach). 

Taoussi’s arrival signals the culmination of negotiations between the coach and the club, as he is set to take over the reins from Senegalese coach Youssouph Dabo, who was dismissed due to the team’s lackluster performance in both the CAF Champions League and the Tanzania Premier League this season.

Taoussi arrived in Tanzania on Saturday to finalize the necessary formalities and paperwork for his official appointment. The club hopes that his experience and expertise will steer the team toward success, particularly in continental competitions.

Taoussi, born on February 6, 1959, in Morocco, has a rich history in African and international football. His coaching career spans several decades, during which he has worked with numerous clubs and national teams. Before embarking on his coaching career, Taoussi was a talented midfielder, known for his vision and skill on the pitch.

The 65-year-old coach brings a wealth of experience to Azam FC, having managed a wide array of teams, including Raja Casablanca, RS Berkane, and FAR Rabat, among other Moroccan clubs. 

On the international scene, he has managed various Moroccan youth national teams, including the U17, U20, and U23 squads. Beyond Morocco, Taoussi has ventured into other North African countries, having briefly coached Algeria’s ES Setif between July and November 2018 before moving to Olympique Khouribga.

His most notable achievement came in 2011 when he led Moroccan side Maghreb de Fes to an unprecedented double, winning the Moroccan Throne Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup. The following year, Taoussi added to his trophy cabinet by securing the CAF Super Cup title. At the youth level, he led the Moroccan U20 team to the African Youth Championship title in 1996-97. 

During his playing career, he won the Moroccan league championship with FAR Rabat in the 1988-89 season.

The Chamazi-based side has had a rocky start to the season, prompting the board to make sweeping changes to the technical team. Dabo, who was brought on as head coach on May 1, 2023, was relieved of his duties following an emergency board meeting on August 30, 2024. The club cited unsatisfactory results, particularly in the CAF Champions League, as the primary reason for the shake-up.

During his time at Azam, Dabo oversaw 51 matches across all competitions, winning 33, drawing eight, and losing 10. Under his leadership, the team scored an impressive 102 goals while conceding 41. His most significant achievement came last season when he guided Azam FC to a second-place finish in the Tanzania Premier League, but his inability to lead the team to glory in continental competitions ultimately cost him his job.

In addition to Dabo’s departure, the club also let go of five other members of the technical staff. This included French assistant coach Bruno Ferry, Senegalese goalkeeper coach Khalifa Babacar Fall, French fitness coach Jean Laurent Geronimi, Senegalese video analyst Ibrahim Diop, and Gambian muscle masseur Ebrima Saine.

Taoussi will now inherit a team in transition, with interim coach Kassim Liogope and his assistant Mohamed Salah ‘Rijkaard’ having temporarily held the fort since Dabo’s departure. Liogope and Rijkaard, who were promoted from the youth team, managed to keep Azam FC competitive in the league, but the club’s management felt the need for a more experienced figure at the helm.

The Moroccan coach is well-versed in African football, having participated in several CAF competitions with different teams, both at the club and national levels. His deep understanding of the game on the continent is seen as a vital asset for Azam FC, which has long sought success in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.

As Taoussi steps into his new role, the expectations are high for the veteran coach to bring stability and success to Azam. His experience, combined with the talent in the squad, offers hope for the team’s fans, who have long been waiting for a return to glory both domestically and in continental competitions.

The club’s management, players, and supporters will now look to Taoussi to turn the tide and lead the Ice Cream Makers to new heights, with the hope that his storied career and past achievements will translate into success on Tanzanian soil.