Xavi Favourite to Replace Regragui as Morocco Boss

Walid Regragui’s time in charge of Morocco appears to be all but over, and the name being whispered loudest in the corridors of the Moroccan FA is a familiar one — Xavi Hernández.

Regragui on His Way Out

According to MARCA, Regragui’s departure from the Atlas Lions is essentially a done deal behind closed doors, even if the official announcement is being held back until a successor is lined up. The federation aren’t rushing to make it public, but inside the organisation it’s being treated as a matter of when, not if.

The timing makes sense, even if it’s a bit awkward. Regragui never fully recovered his standing after Morocco finished runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations, a result that left a sour taste after the heroics of Qatar 2022 — where they became the first African side to reach a World Cup semi-final. Finishing fourth at a World Cup is an act to follow, and the AFCON stumble clearly didn’t help his cause.

Xavi: The Dream Candidate

So who do Morocco want? The federation’s top choice, per MARCA’s sources, is none other than Xavi Hernández — currently without a club since leaving Barcelona a season and a half ago, having won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup during his stint at the Camp Nou.

A few things to consider here:

Xavi is available, which is obviously a big tick in the box
He’s ambitious and reportedly keen to throw himself into a major project
Morocco 2026 is a massive stage — they’re co-hosting the World Cup alongside the USA and Canada, so the pressure will be immense
But there’s a catch — Xavi has historically preferred to build something from scratch rather than parachuting in mid-cycle

That last point is the real spanner in the works. The World Cup kicks off in roughly four months. That’s not exactly a blank canvas, is it? It’s more like being handed a half-finished painting and told to exhibit it at the Tate.

The Complications

For this to happen, two things need to fall into place:

Regragui’s exit needs to be made official — and the federation won’t move on that until a replacement is secured
Xavi needs to be convinced to take on a project that goes against his usual instincts

Neither of those is a formality. Xavi is clearly not the sort of gaffer who fancies jumping on a moving train — he’s always been about building his own thing from the ground up. Whether the lure of a home World Cup and the chance to manage one of the continent’s most exciting national sides is enough to change his thinking remains to be seen.

One thing’s for sure though — if it does come off, it’d be a proper story.