Wydad Casablanca hires Portuguese coach Paulo Sergio as head coach

Moroccan football giant Wydad Casablanca announced on 27 July 2026 the appointment of 58‑year‑old Portuguese manager Paulo Sergio to lead the first‑team. The contract runs until 2027 and is part of a new sporting project unveiled by the club’s freshly elected president, Ibrahim Al Asri, aimed at restoring domestic and continental success.

Sergio brings a long‑standing résumé that began in 2003 with Arouca, includes spells at Santa Clara, Belenenses, Vitória Guimarães and a notable season with Sporting Lisbon (2010‑11). He has also coached abroad in Romania, Cyprus (Apollon Nicosia, where he won the Cypriot Super Cup), Saudi Arabia (Al‑Khaleej) and most recently Morocco’s Al‑Khadoud (Feb 2025‑Jan 2026). The club hopes his experience will stabilise the squad and deliver titles.

Earlier speculation linked Wydad with Uruguayan Daniel Carriño, the former Al‑Nassr Saudi coach, as a possible foreign hire. Reports suggested the club considered a Moroccan manager before ultimately opting for Sergio. The decision reflects Al Asri’s commitment to a foreign technical director as the first step of his broader rebuilding plan.