chargement...
This summer, Morocco will head to the United States with one of the most experienced defenders of its golden generation. Known to teammates as «Lhaj», Noussair Mazraoui is preparing for his second World Cup with the Atlas Lions after a journey marked by persistence, setbacks and a few unexpected twists.
As early as four years old, Mazraoui started playing football. Born on 14 November 1997 in the Dutch town of Leiderdorp to Moroccan parents, he grew up in nearby Alphen aan den Rijn, where he took his first steps in the game with local club AVV Alphen before moving to Alphense Boys.
Yet his rise was anything but straightforward. Before joining Ajax's renowned academy, Mazraoui had to undergo four separate trials. Rejected the first time for being too small and lightweight, he was devastated. «It hurt. I was a little boy, and cried», he later recalled. Persistence eventually paid off. After his fourth attempt, Ajax finally handed him an acceptance letter.
Ajax's accidental right-back
At Ajax, Mazraoui progressed through the youth ranks primarily as a midfielder. Although highly regarded for his technical ability, he was not initially considered among the club's brightest prospects.
Yet his breakthrough into Ajax's first team came thanks to a gamble by coach Erik ten Hag. Introduced as a substitute against NAC Breda in February 2018, Mazraoui seized his opportunity and never looked back.
Mazraoui's trademark versatility was born almost by accident. Switched from midfield to right-back in 2018-19, he flourished in the role, helping Ajax win a domestic double and reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Over the following seasons, he established himself as one of Ajax's most reliable players, helping the club win three Eredivisie titles and two Dutch Cups before attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.
A Career Tested by Injury and Controversy
Bayern Munich signed Mazraoui in 2022, but his start in Germany was disrupted by heart inflammation following a Covid-19 infection in early 2023. He recovered in time to help the club win the Bundesliga title.
The next chapter brought him back to a familiar face. In August 2024, Erik ten Hag once again came calling, bringing his former Ajax player to Manchester United. Mazraoui quickly became one of the club's most dependable players, capable of operating on either flank, in central defence or even further forward when required.
His time in England has not been entirely free of setbacks. In late 2024, he underwent a minor heart procedure after experiencing palpitations and was sidelined for several weeks. The same year, he made headlines after reportedly refusing to wear an LGBTQ-support jacket before a match, citing religious beliefs. Manchester United defended the decision, saying players were «entitled to hold their own individual opinions».
From National Team Exile to Atlas Lions Mainstay
While his club career flourished, Mazraoui chose Morocco over the Netherlands and went on to become one of the Atlas Lions' most dependable defenders after making his senior debut in 2018.
His international journey was not without turbulence. In 2020, a reported disagreement with coach Vahid Halilhodžić over a bottle of water saw Mazraoui sidelined from the national team for more than a year before the pair reconciled ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
The reunion proved worthwhile. Mazraoui played a major role in Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals in Qatar, helping the Atlas Lions become the first African nation to reach the last four of a World Cup.
Today, Mazraoui is regarded as one of Morocco's most experienced internationals and one of the most versatile defenders in European football. With another World Cup on the horizon, «Lhaj» remains one of the players Morocco will count on most as it seeks to build on the historic achievements of Qatar.
