Report: Roger Lemerre No Longer Morocco Coach

According to Mountakhab.net, Roger Lemerre and the Moroccan Royal Football Federation have parted ways after protracted negotiations which began after the Atlas Lions’ disappointing goalless World Cup qualifying outing against a shorthanded Togo side last month.

The relationship between the Frenchman and the North African country’s FA had been tenuous ever since the arrival of newly elected Federation president Ali Fassi Fihri, who replaced Housni Benslimane after the latter stepped down following Morocco’s disastrous start to qualifying.

The sacking would have come sooner if Lemerre had not been clinging to a stipulation in his contract that required €2 million to be paid to him should it be terminated prematurely. It is unclear whether he received full compensation, but the Aryadia sports channel is calling his departure an “amicable divorce” between both parties.

Asides from poor results, the former coach of Les Bleus will be remembered by Atlas Lions supporters for his overly conservative squad selections and substitutions, as well as his sour relationship with the media.

Possible replacements being mentioned are the former national U-23 director, Hassan Harmatallah, and Jose Ramao, the Portuguese manager of Raja Casablanca. Meanwhile, Badou Zaki’s name is also being floated despite that fact that he just extended his deal with Wydad Athletic Club by an additional year.

Rami Ayari, Goal.com