Abdeslam Ouaddou

Abdeslam Ouaddou (; born 1 November 1978) is a Moroccan football coach and former professional footballer who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder. He is the current coach of South African Premier Soccer League club Orlando Pirates. He also holds French citizenship.

Club career Ouaddou was born in Alnif, Morocco. He started his footballing career quite late, at the age of 21. In the summer of 2001, Ouaddou was signed by newly promoted Premier League club Fulham for £8 million, on a four-year contract. However, Ouaddou did not settle in England and spent the last two years of his contract on loan at Rennes, before joining the French club permanently once his contract expired.

In summer 2006, Ouaddou signed for Olympiacos. After disappointing appearances with the team, he was relegated to the bench. On 7 December 2006, he asked Olympiacos to release him free because he felt homesick and had some family problems. The club's directors agreed and Ouaddou will return to France.

On 1 January 2007, the opening day of the January transfer window, Ouaddou joined Valenciennes FC on a free transfer. After one season with the club however, he transferred to AS Nancy for a fee of £150,000. He was voted the club's best signing for the 2008–09 campaign.

On 30 June 2010, Ouaddou left Nancy after a dispute with the Ligue 1 outfit. He had a deal until 2012 but left after the club decided to sack him for gross misconduct, while the player wanted to cancel his contract.

In 2010, he played for Al-Duhail SC in the Qatar Stars League, eventually winning the league championship.

It was announced on 8 August 2011, that Qatar SC had signed him for a two-year deal. He commented on the move, stating "I'm more than pleased to have extended my stay in the Qatar Stars League and move to another big club". In 2013, he criticized employment conditions in Qatar, stating "When you work in Qatar you belong to someone. You are not free. You are a slave."

Orlando Pirates As of June 2025, Ouaddou is the head coach of Orlando Pirates F.C., a top-flight club in South Africa's Premier Soccer League. Prior to this appointment, he served as head coach of Marumo Gallants F.C.. He won his first trophy in the South African top flight when he won the 2025 MTN 8 just days after a car accident involving him and five other members of the Pirates technical team. He won his second trophy the 2025 Carling Knockout Cup and became the second Pirates coach after Ruud Krol to win the top 8 and knockout competition in the same season.

At the 2025–26 South African Premiership awards he was awarded the coach of the season.

Honours Player Fulham UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002

Olympiacos Super League Greece: 2006–07

Al-Duhail SC Qatar Stars League: 2010-11

Morocco Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2004

Manager AS Vita Club Coupe du Congo: 2024

Orlando Pirates South African Premiership: 2025–26 MTN 8: 2025 Carling Black Label Cup: 2025 Individual

2025–26 South African Premiership: Coach of the Season