Mouhcine Iajour

Mouhcine Iajour (Arabic: محسن ياجور; born 14 June 1986) is a Moroccan football striker[2] who currently plays for RS Berkane and the Moroccan national team.

Mouhcine Iajour
Iajour interviewed on 30 April 2019
Personal information
Full name Mouhcine Iajour[1]
Date of birth (1985-06-14) 14 June 1985[1]
Place of birth Casablanca, Morocco
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Renaissance Zemamra
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Raja Casablanca 42 (7)
2007–2008 Chiasso 19 (7)
2008–2010 Charleroi 28 (4)
2010–2012 Wydad Casablanca 64 (20)
2012–2014 Raja Casablanca 75 (28)
2014–2015 Moghreb Tétouan 26 (18)
2015–2016 Qatar SC 15 (8)
2016 → Al Ahli (loan) 13 (10)
2016–2017 Al Khor 18 (5)
2017–2019 Raja Casablanca 93 (53)
2019–2020 Damac 12 (3)
2020–2021 RS Berkane 24 (10)
2021– Renaissance Zemamra
International career‡
2003–2004 Morocco U-20 17 (9)
2004–2015 Morocco 16 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2017
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 November 2017

In 2013, Iajour became the first African footballer to be FIFA Club World Cup's top scorer and Bronze Ball, advancing with Raja Casablanca into the final played against European champions Bayern Munich.[3] Previously, only Congolese Dioko Kaluyituka won the Silver Ball in 2010.[4]

Club career

Raja Casablanca

Iajour began his career at his hometown club Raja Casablanca, in 2003. After staying there for four years, he moved to FC Chiasso.

FC Chiasso

In August 2007 when the Arabian Clubs Tournament was finished, Mouhcine decided to stay in Switzerland without the permission of his club Raja Casablanca. On 28 October 2007, Iajour has appeared for the first time in official match with the team of FC Chiasso.

Return to Raja Casablanca

He returned to Raja Casablanca in 2012. After a season, he won his first league title with Raja. In 2013, Raja qualified to FIFA Club World Cup as league champions of host country. On 11 December 2013, Iajour scored a goal in the 2–1 victory against Auckland City FC, in the play-off for quarter finals. His team eventually defeated Monterrey with 2–1 in the quarter finals to pass in the semi-finals. On 18 December 2013, he scored a goal in the historical 3–1 victory against Atletico Mineiro in the semi-finals. But in the final, Raja Casablanca was defeated by UEFA Champions League holders, Bayern Munich with 2–0. Iajour become one of the FIFA Club World Cup top scorers for 2013, together with Dario Conca, César Delgado and Ronaldinho. He received the FIFA Club World Cup bronze ball.[3]

Damac

On 21 July 2019, Iajour joined the newly promoted Damac in the Saudi Professional League.[5]

RS Berkane

In January 2020, Iajour returned to Morocco to play for RS Berkane.[6]

Moghreb Tétouan

On 4 September 2023, Iajour returned to play in his former club MA Tétouan.[7]

International career

Youth

In the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship Iajour has scored three goals and helped Morocco to move to the semi-finals, where they were defeated 3–0 by Nigeria. Morocco ended the tournament in fourth place after a 2–1 loss to Brazil.

Senior

In January 2014, coach Hassan Benabicha, invited him to be a part of the Moroccan squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship.[8] He helped the team to top group B after drawing with Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe and defeating Uganda.[9][10] The team was eliminated from the competition at the quarter final zone after losing to Nigeria.[11][12]

International goals
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first.[13]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.16 November 2014Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco  Switzerland2–02–1Friendly
2.20 January 2014Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa Uganda2–13–12014 African Nations Championship
3.25 January 2014 Nigeria2–03–4
(a.e.t.)
4.7 September 2014Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh, Morocco Libya3–03–0Friendly
5.13 October 2014 Kenya3–03–0
6.16 November 2014Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco Zimbabwe2–12–1
7.21 June 2015Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco Libya1–03–02016 African Nations Championship qualification

Honours

Club

Raja Casablanca

RS Berkane

Individual

International

Morocco

References
  1. "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 15 December 2014. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2015.
  2. Thomas, Durosimi (19 July 2004). "Under-20 round-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
  3. "Awards for Bayern duo and Iajour". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  4. "2010 FIFA Club World Cup awards". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  5. "ضمك يحسم صفقة محسن ياجور". Kooora (in Arabic). 21 July 2019.
  6. "RS Berkane sign Mouhcine Iajour and Zakaria Hadraf". African Football HQ. 10 January 2020.
  7. "ياجور يدافع عن ألوان المغرب التطواني". Hespress - هسبريس جريدة إلكترونية مغربية (in Arabic). 4 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  8. "Morocco name Chan squad". goal.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  9. "Burkina Faso/Morocco: Chan 2014 – Morocco and Burkina Faso On the Scene, All the Day's Program". allafrica.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  10. "CHAN 2014: Final Result: Morocco 3 – 1 Uganda". cafonline.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  11. "CHAN 2014: Morocco, Zimbabwe Clinch Quarter Finals places with Last Group B wins". tripolipost.com. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  12. "CHAN 2014: Nigeria stun Morocco to make the semi-final". allsports.com.gh. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  13. "Mouhcine Iajour". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
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