Preseason opponents (IV): Raja Club Athletic, the Moroccan side with the most Champions League titles

With the arrival of President Mohamed Boudrika, Raja Club Athletic have refocused its efforts to once again impose its dominance on the African continent. After a tumultuous season, the new president has given new direction to the team managed by Mohamed Fakhir, who returns to Raja's bench after a year of absence.

A complicated season

Fakhir, who also managed the Moroccan national team, left the club in the 2010/11 season after leading the team to the league title. Raja Club Athletic appointed Ilie Balac to Fakhir’s old post in a bid to defend the Moroccan league crown. The Romanian manager, however, was sacked after only two months and Bertrand Marchand took charge of the team, but he also was unable to lead the Casablanca side to success.

Finishing in fourth place, level on points with its long-time rival WAC Casablanca, the all-greens were unable to stop Mogreb Atletic Tetuán from claiming the 2011/12 league title. Raja Club also had a relatively inconspicuous run in international competitions; Berekum Chelsea FC surprisingly eliminated Raja Club from the African Champions League with a decisive 5-0 drubbing.

Appointed to Raja’s bench four times

The 2012/13 season will be Fakhir’s fourth stint as Raja Club Athletic’s manager. The club’s new board of directors has confidence in the ex-player’s ability to right the course of the team and lead the players to new titles. This will be the Moroccan’s fourth time on the Casablanca-based team’s bench after he managed the team from 1983 through 1995 (youth football and first team), 1995 through 1999 and 2010 through 2011.

Raja Casablanca, who will also face Athletic Club this summer, have brought in a lot of new talent for the upcoming season. Players like Imail Koucham, Adil Karouchi and Chtibi Chamseddine were bought to give the defence more stability and provide a foundation that will hopefully make Raja Casablanca a title contender next season.