20 Facts About Mustapha Hadji

Mustapha Hadji is a Moroccan football coach and former player.

Mustapha Hadji was named the 50th greatest African player of all time by the African football expert Ed Dove.

Mustapha Hadji emigrated with his family to France at the age of ten.

Mustapha Hadji signed his first contract with Nancy, where he spent his first season as a youth player before joining the senior squad in his second year with the club.

Mustapha Hadji was a goal-scoring attacking midfielder with great pace and skill.

Mustapha Hadji later played for Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates, where he remained for one year before returning to Europe.

At the request of the coach Horst Ehrmantraut, Mustapha Hadji made a midfield pairing with another Moroccan international, Faysal El Idrissi.

On 4 August 2005, Mustapha Hadji made his debut for Saarbrucken, on the first day of the 2.

Mustapha Hadji scored to give his team the lead, but was sent off in the 85th minute and was suspended for three cup matches by the German Football Association.

At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Mustapha Hadji played in all three group games for Morocco, two as substitute.

In Morocco's third game against the Netherlands, Mustapha Hadji set up the equalizer for Hassan Nader with his first touch after coming on as substitute.

Mustapha Hadji was named African Footballer of the Year after the World Cup in France.

Mustapha Hadji played in 13 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

Mustapha Hadji was selected as an ambassador for the 2010 World Cup by FIFA to represent Africa.

Mustapha Hadji is involved in a partnership with plans to invest in Morocco, thus providing opportunities for the local people, to help rid poverty from his homeland.

Mustapha Hadji is a supporter of the charity Show Racism The Red Card.

Mustapha Hadji would have been ambassador for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, representing his country if Morocco had been selected as the host.

Mustapha Hadji was appointed as an assistant manager for the Morocco national team by manager Badou Ezzaki before the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mustapha Hadji left the role in 2022, and later that year was suspended by the Confederation of African Football for falsifying his coaching licence.

Mustapha Hadji's younger brother Youssouf Hadji was a Moroccan international and last played for Nancy in France.