Tarik Sektioui

Tarik Sektioui (طارق السكتيوي; born 13 May 1977) is a Moroccan former professional footballer who played as a right winger, currently the manager of Morocco national under-23 football team.

He spent most of his professional career in the Netherlands and Portugal, amassing Eredivisie totals of 142 games and 29 goals over the course of eight seasons for Willem II, AZ Alkmaar and RKC in the former, and winning several honours with Porto in the latter. A full international for Morocco, he represented the side at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

Sektioui began managing in 2013 in his first of three spells at Maghreb de Fès, winning the Moroccan Throne Cup with them in 2016 and the CAF Confederation Cup with RS Berkane in 2019–20. He led three other clubs in the Botola and had a brief spell in the UAE Pro League with Emirates Club.

Club
Born in Fez, Sektioui played two seasons at French club AJ Auxerre, failing to establish with the first team and also appearing sparingly for the reserves during his spell. He arrived at the Netherlands and Tilburg's Willem II in January 2000 from Swiss side Neuchâtel Xamax, going on to play a major role and eventually gaining captaincy.

In the 2004–05 campaign, Sektioui switched to AZ Alkmaar thus returning to the Eredivisie. During his two-year tenure, he scored some vital goals and formed an efficient attacking partnership with Shota Averladze.

After an uneventful loan stint in 1999 with C.S. Marítimo, Sektioui returned to Portugal in July 2006 after Co Adriaanse (also his coach at Willem II) signed him for FC Porto. He would find the adjustment difficult, and spent the second half of the season on loan to another Dutch team, RKC Waalwijk. On 3 February 2007, he played his first game, against NAC Breda.

Even though Adriaanse was gone, Sektioui was recalled for 2007–08, and was a key member of the squad coached by Jesualdo Ferreira that retained the Primeira Liga title with five matches remaining. On the fourth day of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, he scored arguably the best goal of the night after overtaking five Olympique de Marseille defenders before hitting home beyond the goalkeeper; Porto eventually reached the round-of-16, ousted by Schalke 04 on penalties.

On 2 July 2009, after having featured rarely for Porto during the campaign – 17 appearances all competitions comprised – Sektioui moved to Ajman Club in the United Arab Emirates, on a one-year deal. He retired after one season aged 33, but later went back on his decision and joined his very first professional club, his hometown's Maghreb de Fès.

International
A Moroccan international since 2001, Sektioui represented his nation in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring a penalty in the 5–1 rout of Namibia.

Managerial career
After coaching at the Mohammed VI Football Academy, Sektioui was hired on a three-year deal at Maghreb de Fès, after Azzedine Aït Djoudi left for JS Kabylie. After a spell at Wydad AC he returned to his relegated local club for two years in July 2016. On 20 November, he won the Moroccan Throne Cup with a 2–1 victory over Olympic Club de Safi in the final in Laayoune.

In February 2019, Sektioui moved to Moghreb Tétouan on an 18-month deal for a salary of 120,000 Moroccan dirhams. The northern club was ranked in 14th. He was dismissed in July for undisclosed breach of contract.

Sektioui signed a two-year deal at RS Berkane in September 2019. On 25 October of the following year, his team won the CAF Confederation Cup with a 1–0 win over Egypt's Pyramids FC in the final in Rabat. He resigned on 7 March 2021 after a 2–1 defeat to AS FAR.

He moved to his first foreign managerial job at newly promoted UAE Pro League side Emirates Club for the 2021–22 season. He resigned on 27 December, having taken one point in 12 games for the last-placed club.

In 2022, Sektioui returned to his country's top flight, at Union de Touarga. In July 2023, he returned to Maghreb de Fès. On 29 February 2024, Sektioui was appointed head coach of the Morocco national under-23 football team by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation to replace Issame Charaï.

Personal life
Sektioui's older brother, Abdelhadi, was also a footballer and manager. He was employed by Maghreb de Fès in both roles too.

Player

 * Porto
 * Primeira Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
 * Taça de Portugal: 2008–09
 * Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2006


 * Maghreb de Fès
 * CAF Confederation Cup: 2011


 * Morocco U20
 * U-20 Africa Cup of Nations: 1997

Individual
 * U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Best Player: 1997

Manager

 * Maghreb de Fès
 * Moroccan Throne Cup: 2016


 * RS Berkane
 * CAF Confederation Cup: 2019–20