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Raja Club Athletic
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History & Honours

ABOUT THE

RAJA CLUB ATHLETIC

Raja Club Athletic is a professional Moroccan football club based in Casablanca.

Founded on March 20, 1949 by Moroccan nationalists and trade unionists in the popular neighborhood of Derb Sultan, Raja CA is particularly known for the success of its football section, which is highly popular across Morocco. The club is the only team that has never been relegated from the Moroccan top division since its introduction in 1956. Raja trains at the Raja-Oasis Sports Complex and has played its home matches at the Mohammed V Stadium since its inauguration in 1955.

  • Since 1949
  • Morocco's club of THE 20th CENTURY
  • 2013 Club World Cup VICE-CHAMPION
OUR TEAM
1949

THE STORY CONTINUES

34

TROPHIES

+76

YEARS OF HISTORY

THE FOUNDATION OF RAJA CLUB ATHLETIC

Raja Club Athletic was founded on March 20, 1949 in the heart of Derb Sultan in Casablanca, by a group of Moroccan of nationalists who believed that football could be a means of expressing national identity and resisting colonial rule.
From its very beginning, RAJA was more than a just football club, it was a social and cultural project carrying a strong popular message.
The name of RAJA meaning hope in arabic, was chosen to symbolise the aspirations of the Moroccan people for freedom and brighter future. Rooted in these values, the club quickly became a football school of excellence and a powerfull symbol of unity and belonging for millions of fans in Morocco and beyond. 

FIRST OFFICIAL TITLE - THRONE CUP

On July 28, 1978, RAJA won the first official title in its history after defeating Maghreb de Fes MAS 1-0, with the goal scored by Abdellatif Beggar.

The final was held at the Mohammed V stadium in Casablanca, in the presence of H.M King Hassan II, may he rest in peace.

Second Throne Cup Victory

Raja Club Athletic won the Throne Cup for the second time in the club’s history in 1977. This achievement came after defeating Difaa Hassani El Jadidi 1-0 in the final, with the goal scored by the late Bougar. The final was hosted at the Stade du Fath.

The photo features the late Hamman, Abdel Razzaq, goalkeeper Mokhles, and coach Tashkov.

The 3rd Throne Cup

The 1982 Throne Cup final saw Raja face Renaissance de Kénitra in Casablanca. Raja won the match 1-0, with the goal scored by player Beggar.

First National Championship Title

In 1988, Raja celebrated its first Moroccan League (Botola) title in the club’s history.

 
 

First African Champions Clubs Cup

After winning their first national league title in the 1987–1988 season, Raja qualified for the African Cup of Champions Clubs for the first time in its history. Following a long campaign in which they eliminated major teams, the squad, coached by Rabah Saâdane, reached the final to face Algerian side MC Oran, then at the peak of its powers and forming the core of the Algerian national team.

The first leg was played at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, ending in a narrow 1-0 victory for Raja with a goal by Senegalese Salif N'Diaye, leaving the suspense to be decided in the second leg.

The return leg took place at Stade Ahmed Zabana amid tense political tensions between Morocco and Algeria, in a stadium packed to the brim. Raja also had to cope without Tijani Maâtawi, Said Seddiki, and Algerian goalkeeper El-Dreid, who refused to face his former club. Additionally, goalkeeper Aït Saleh was injured, prompting the risky decision to field the third-choice keeper, Hassan Mendoun.

Botola and Throne Cup Double

In 1996, Raja Club Athletic won the Throne Cup by defeating the AS-FAR in a final attended by the late King Hassan II, and went on to secure the league title at the end of the season.

Second Double in Club History – Domestic and African Glory

In 1997, Raja Club Athletic won the league title for the second consecutive season and also claimed the inaugural edition of the CAF Champions League in its new format, under the guidance of Bosnian coach Vahid Halilhodžić, defeating Ghana’s Goldfields SC in the final.

Third Consecutive Double – African and Asian Top Honors

In 1998, Raja Club Athletic won the league title for the third consecutive season, marking the fourth in the club’s history, and also claimed the Afro-Asian Club Championship, contested between the African and Asian champions, in Seoul, South Korea.

Making Doubles a Tradition

In 1999, Raja Club Athletic won its 5th national league title, the fourth in a row, and also claimed the CAF Champions League, a remarkable edition marked by dramatic events during the second leg at Stade El Menzah against Tunisia’s Espérance de Tunis. This victory also opened the doors for Raja to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup as the first African and Arab team, alongside Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr.

Botola and CAF Super Cup Double

Raja Club Athletic secured its fifth consecutive national league title, demonstrating its national dominance, and also won the CAF Super Cup in 2000.

 
 

Sixth Consecutive National League Title

Raja Club Athletic won its 7th league title overall and the 6th in a row.

 
 

Throne Cup Champions and African Runner-Up

In 2002, Raja Club Athletic won the Throne Cup for the fifth time in its history and finished as runners-up in the CAF Champions League after losing to Egypt’s Zamalek in the final.

 
 

CAF Confederation Cup Champions

In 2003, Raja Club Athletic concluded the season by winning the CAF Confederation Cup, defeating Cameroon’s Coton Sport in the final under the guidance of French coach Henri Michel.

 
 

Eighth Botola Title

In 2004, Raja Club Athletic won its 8th national league title after a fierce competition with the FAR team.

 
 

Sixth Throne Cup Victory

In 2005, Raja Club Athletic capped off its season by winning the Throne Cup for the sixth time, defeating Olympic Khouribga in the final.

 
 

First Arab Champions League Title

In 2006, Raja Club Athletic won its first Arab Champions League title after defeating Egypt’s ENPPI in the final, following a thrilling campaign throughout the tournament.

 

Ninth Botola Title

In 2009, Raja Club Athletic claimed its 9th national Botola title under the leadership of Portuguese coach José Romão.

 

Historic Tenth League Title and Gold Star

In 2011, Raja won its historic 10th Botola title, earning the prestigious golden star added to the club’s emblem.

 

Botola Pro and Throne Cup Double & Club World Cup Runner-Up

In 2013, Raja secured both the national Botola Pro and Throne Cup by defeating the FAR and made a historic appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup, finishing as runners-up in the presence of King Mohammed VI.

 

First North African Cup Victory

In 2015, Raja Club Athletic won its first North African Cup title.

 

Eighth Throne Cup Title

In 2017, Raja claimed its eighth Throne Cup by defeating Difaa Hassani El Jadidi in a historic final at Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

 

Second CAF Confederation Cup Title

In 2018, Raja won its second CAF Confederation Cup, and the first in the competition’s new format, defeating DR Congo’s Vita Club in a challenging final.

 

First African Team to Win a Continental Title Outside Africa

In 2019, Raja became the first African club to win a continental trophy outside Africa by capturing the CAF Super Cup against Tunisia’s Espérance in Doha.

 

Twelfth Botola Pro Title Amid Extraordinary Circumstances

In 2020, Raja achieved its 12th Botola Pro title after a tight battle with rivals until the last minute of the season, in extraordinary circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Historic Double – CAF Confederation Cup & Arab Champions Cup

In 2021, Raja won a historic double by claiming both the CAF Confederation Cup and the Arab Champions Cup (then named the Mohammed VI Champions Cup) under Tunisian coach Lassaâd Chabbi, defeating JS Kabylie and Al-Ittihad Saudi Club respectively.

 

Undefeated Botola Pro and Throne Cup Double

In 2024, Raja made history by winning both the Botola Pro and Throne Cup without losing a single match all season, under German coach Joseph Zinbaur, who delivered an exceptional performance and secured his place in Raja’s history.