Latest news with #Ihattaren
Morocco World
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
‘They Always Supported Me': Mohamed Ihattaren Chooses Morocco
Doha – Dutch-Moroccan football prodigy Mohamed Ihattaren has officially decided to represent Morocco at the international level. The 23-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for RKC Waalwijk in the Netherlands, announced his decision to switch allegiance after previously representing the Netherlands in youth categories. In an exclusive interview with Dutch media outlet SportNieuwsNL, Ihattaren confirmed his choice. 'Yes, for me, it will now be the Moroccan team. Morocco has always supported me,' he declared, ending years of speculation about his international future. Born on February 12, 2002, in Utrecht to Moroccan parents, Ihattaren holds dual Moroccan-Dutch nationality. He represented the Netherlands in multiple youth categories (U15, U16, U17, U19) but never made an appearance for the Oranje senior team. The talented midfielder was once considered one of Dutch football's brightest prospects. However, his promising career was derailed by both sporting difficulties and off-field problems, including legal issues in the Netherlands that seriously slowed his progress. Several years ago, Ihattaren emerged as a sensation in Dutch football. At just 17, the left-footed midfielder broke through at PSV Eindhoven, quickly becoming the new star of Dutch football. Despite being heavily courted by the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), he initially chose the Netherlands under Ronald Koeman. At the time, a major announcement was made on the Dutch national team's social media channels, in partnership with his sponsor, Nike. Although called up multiple times to the Netherlands squad, he never officially debuted, spending two Nations League matches on the bench. After a promising start to his career, Ihattaren experienced a serious setback due to depression, a downward spiral, his father's death, alleged connections to criminal groups in the Netherlands, and weight problems. His situation became so dire that he considered retirement after nearly three years without playing football. His career has been marked by a series of club changes without playing time – Juventus, Sampdoria, Ajax, and Slavia Prague – all ending in difficult separations. He faced legal cases in the Netherlands, as he was accused of assault and threatening his ex-girlfriend. Since having his contract terminated by Slavia Prague in April, he had temporarily disappeared from the football radar. Last season, RKC Waalwijk took a chance on reviving his career, which proved relatively successful as he rediscovered his joy for football. He contributed 4 goals and 5 assists in 28 Eredivisie matches. Ihattaren now insists he has turned the page: 'I've found the joy of playing again.' This is encouraging news for those who never doubted his raw talent and still hope to see him shine at the highest level. Back in August 2019, then-Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic had already pre-selected him for two friendly matches. Ihattaren did not respond positively at that time. Today, his decision is final. The midfielder was recently spotted attending Glory 100, a kickboxing event where Moroccan-Belgian fighter Jamal Ben Saddik competed. 'I would have liked to see it end differently, but this is also the sports world,' Ihattaren said about Ben Saddik's match against Sofian Laïdouni. 'Sometimes it can end like this. But for me, he remains a winner.' Regarding his club future, Ihattaren remains open to possibilities. 'The Netherlands would be great, but Belgium is also not far from where I currently am. You never know what the future holds in football. The interest must be real, and they need to reach an agreement with my agent. Until then, I'll see what comes my way. I believe every step is the right one for me,' he explained. While he works to stabilize his club situation, his choice to represent Morocco's Atlas Lions could reinvigorate his career. It remains to be seen whether current Morocco coach Walid Regragui will offer him an opportunity in the national team. Tags: Atlas Lionsmohamed ihattarenMoroccan national footbal team
Ya Biladi
17-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
«Everything went downhill» : Moroccan footballer Ihattaren reflects on losing his father
In a rare emotional moment, Moroccan footballer Mohamed Ihattaren shared a personal story about his late father during an appearance on Matchday by Supergaande. The RKC Waalwijk player reflected on how his father's presence shaped his early career—and how his passing marked the start of a difficult period. «When my dad was around, I could always say: my father's here. That gave me so much peace of mind—I could just focus and perform», Ihattaren said, offering a message to all footballing fathers. «You have to be present, no matter what. You have no idea how much that means to a boy». He admitted the loss still weighs heavily. «When that was taken away from me, everything started to go downhill. Yeah, I still struggle with it», he said. Ihattaren described how his father was always in the crowd, standing with the fans behind the fences. «Everyone knew: that's my dad. That gave me such a boost. I used to think, I'm going to buy all of Morocco for you», he said with a heavy heart. Today, he says, that motivation has shifted. «Now I feel that way about my mom. These past few years, I haven't given her what she deserves, because I wasn't in a good place. But now, she's my drive», he promised. Born in Utrecht, Netherlands, to Moroccan parents, Mohamed Ihattaren currently plays as an attacking midfielder for RKC Waalwijk. A former PSV Eindhoven prodigy, he made his professional debut at 16. He later joined Juventus in 2021 but never played for them, with loan spells at Sampdoria and Ajax, followed by a brief stint at Slavia Prague. After personal struggles and a career downturn—compounded by allegations of ties to a Mocro Maffia member and accusations of domestic abuse—he returned to the Eredivisie in 2024, hoping to relaunch his career.
