Fath Union Sport

FUS
Full name Fath Union Sport Football Club
Founded April 10, 1946 (1946-04-10)
Ground Stade de FUS, Rabat
Ground Capacity 15,000
President Mounir Majidi
Head Coach Walid Regragui
League Botola
2016-2017 7th
Website Club website

Fath Union Sport (Arabic: اتحاد الفتح الرياضي‎‎; commonly called FUS or FUS Rabat) is a Moroccan football club based in Rabat and currently playing in the first division. The club was founded on 10 April 1946. 'Fath Union Sport' is the name of the sports club which encompasses everything from Basketball to the game of Chess.

Former crest of FUS

History

Foundation

Fath Union Sport de Rabat was founded on 1946 when Morocco was under the French protectorate. The club is considered the heir of Union Sportive de Rabat-Salé, founded on 1932, which was the first nationalist club in Morocco according to the late Père Jégo, one of the Moroccan football historic symbols. This club was dissolved by the French authorities in 1944.

After the foundation of Fath Union Sport de Rabat. the French authorities refused it integration to the French National Football League under the pretext that it was a nationalist club. But the problem was finally solved after having Mohammed V surgery.[1]

Relationship with Prince Moulay Abdallah

Prince Moulay Abdallah was one of the biggest fans of FUS de Rabat and also the honorary president of the club, he supported the team financially and helped to attend many goals that are still entrenched in the memories of all Moroccan football fans.

The late prince used to come to the stadium to see the training session without being recognized and to organize friendly games to harden the club's players and make them more efficient.[2]

Titles

Although Fath de Rabat is one of the biggest clubs in Morocco, it has only 5 titles won in the Moroccan Throne Cup respectively in 1967, 1973, 1976, 1995 and 2010. The club won the first cup after defeating RS Settat by two goals scored by Fettah and Laroussi to one in Stade D'honneur. The second one was taken in the city of Agadir after the team beat Ittihad Khemisset (3–1).[3]

In 1976, FUS de Rabat got the third cup by defeating KAC Kénitra in Stade de Marchan, the only goal of the final match was scored by Khalid Labied, who was later the top scorer of 1980 African Cup of Nations.

The fans of Rabat's team did not rejoice any title only after almost twenty years when they got another Throne Cup in 1995 at the expense of Olympique Khouribga. The final match was finished by the score of 2–0, the goals had been scored by Postnov and Hammou.[4]

On November 25, 2010 FUS de Rabat won their last cup in Stade Moulay Abdellah after overthrewing the team of Maghreb Fez by the score of 2–1. Issoufou scored the first goal and the second was made by El Fatihi.[5]

African Competitions

Since 2010, FUS de Rabat became one of five Moroccan teams that succeeded to have African titles after winning the 2010 CAF Confederation Cup, the club had also participated more than one time in African competitions.

After winning Moroccan Throne Cup in 1995 FUS de Rabat had participated in the African Cup Winners' Cup and succeeded to the quarter-final before being eliminated by Arab Contractors SC (0–1 on Aggregate). In that time Philippe Troussier was the coach of the team.

In 2002, The team participated in the CAF Cup and was eliminated from the second round by Satellite FC of Côte d'Ivoire. after a draw without goals in Morocco, they lost outside their ground by the score of 1–0.

Although it lost the final match of Moroccan Throne Cup in 2009 against neighbours AS FAR, the club had the opportunity to participate in the 2010 CAF Confederation Cup. FUS de Rabat managed to be the competition's surprise by disqualifying several famous teams and among them the defending champion Stade Malien after beating them in Rabat by the score of 2–0 and going to Bamako to have a draw (0–0). Rabat team would after that come in the top of Group B after having several good results against Zanaco, Haras El-Hodood and CS Sfaxien.[6]

On November 12, 2010, FUS de Rabat was qualified for the first time to the final match of the competition although the team was defeated against Al-Ittihad of Libya by 1–0, because they did well outside in Tripoli by beating the home side by the score of 2–1 in June 11 Stadium.[7]

The African title came on November 4, after making a draw 0–0 with CS Sfaxien one week before in Rabat, the team succeed to create the surprise in Sfax by beating the host team by the score of 3–2. Defender Boukhriss opened the score for FUS de Rabat but the hosts succeed to overturn the game in their favor after scoring two goals. In the 75th minute Mohamed Zouidi equalized the score and added the third goal in 89th minute while CS Sfaxien players were trying to score to take the title.[8][9]

Honours

Winners (1) : 2016
Runner-up (5) : 1973, 1974, 1981, 2001, 2012
1967, 1973, 1976, 1995, 2010, 2014
Runner-up : 1960, 2009 , 2015
1962, 1998, 2007, 2009
2010

[10]

Performance in CAF competitions

2010 – Champion
2011 – First Round of 16
2013 – Group stage
2015 – Second round
2016 - Semi-final
2002 – Second Round
1996 – Quarter-Final
2011 – Runner up

[11]

Current squad

As of 27 March, 2016[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player}
1 Morocco GK Abderahmane El Houasli
13 Morocco GK Aymane Majid
3 Morocco DF Reda Enneoualy
4 Morocco DF Nayef Aguerd
5 Senegal DF Ass Mandaw Sy
15 Morocco DF Hamza Lahrach
16 Morocco DF Mohamed Nahiri
20 Morocco DF Yassir Jarici
21 Morocco DF Yassine Jbira
22 Morocco DF Mehdi El Bassil
27 Morocco DF Adil Benzariouh
28 Morocco DF Mehdi Khalis
2 Morocco MF Ayoub Skouma
8 Morocco MF Badr Boulahroud
No. Position Player
14 Morocco MF Zakaria Hajjoub
23 Morocco MF Amine Louani
24 Morocco MF Adam Ennaffati
33 Morocco MF Amine Mamouni
7 Morocco FW Hicham El Araoui
9 The Gambia FW Yusupha Njie
10 Morocco FW Abdessalam Benjelloun
11 Mali FW Ibrahima Sidibe
18 Mali FW Moustapha Kondé
19 Morocco FW Hamza Semmoumy
25 Morocco FW Saad Ait Khorsa
29 Morocco FW Anass Dkhissi

Managers

References

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