Hakim Ziyech has returned to Morocco’s senior national team after announcing his retirement from international football in 2021. The 29-year-old Chelsea attacker will feature for Morocco in their upcoming international friendlies in September.
Hakim Ziyech announced his retirement after a feud was confirmed between him and the Morocco national team coach Vahid Halilhodžić. The Premier League star and Chelsea forward confirmed his retirement via his Instagram handle seven months ago. Ziyech gave reasons for his decision and tendered an apology to the Moroccan fans for walking out of the team.
According to him, although the decision to quit the team was a difficult one, he had to take it as the leadership of the team field misinformation about him regardless of his sacrifices and contribution to the squad.
Despite his earlier stand on retirement, it has been confirmed that he is set to feature for the Moroccan national team in their September friendlies.
On September 23, 2022, Morocco are expected to play a friendly game with Chile as a part of their preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Morocco will commence their World Cup campaign in Group F against Croatia on November 23.
Who Is Hakim Ziyech?
Hakim Ziyech is a 29-year-old Morocco international who plays as an attacking midfielder and striker for English Premier League side Chelsea. Ziyech is popularly known as ‘the wizard,’ an epithet he earned while playing for Ajax.
Ziyech was born in Dronten, Netherlands, on 19 March 1993. He started his football career in the Netherlands in 2001, playing for Reaal Dronten till 2004. From 2004 to 2007, he joined ASV Dronten youth and moved to Heerenveen youth in 2007. His great dribbling skills and creativity earned him a transition to the Heerenveen senior team after playing for the youth team for five years (2007 to 2012).
He made his first senior club debut for Heerenveen in 2012. Ziyech played for two years for the club, making 36 appearances and scoring 11 goals.
In 2014, he joined FC Twente and made 68 appearances, scoring 30 goals. He left FC Twente in 2016 after two years and joined Dutch giants Ajax. At Ajax, he had his most extended spell with a single club since starting his football career. He played for four years for the club from 2016 to 2020.
Ziyech saw his football career soar at Ajax. He was popular among Ajax fans, who nicknamed him ‘the Wizard’ due to his skillful dribbles, great free kicks, and attacking flair. Ziyech made 112 appearances for Ajax, scoring 38 goals.
On February 14, 2020, Ziyech joined the Premier League after Ajax and Chelsea reach an agreement for the transfer of the player for €40m which later increased to €44m. The terms of personal agreement by Chelsea was not disclosed until after 10 days. The Blues announced that they reached personal agreement with the Moroccan international for a five-year contract.
On 17 October 2020, Ziyech made his Chelsea debut in a six goals-thriller between the Blues and Southampton. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. His first goal for the club came on October 28, 2020, in a 4-0 thrashing of Krasnodar in the Champions League. So far, he has made 48 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 6 goals.
National Team Stats
Before switching to Morocco senior national team, Ziyech played for Netherland U-20 and U-21, making a total of 6 appearances, and scoring 3 goals.
He debuted for the Moroccan national team in 2015. Ziyech announced his retirement from international football in 2021. Before announcing his retirement, he was capped 40 times by the Moroccan national team and had scored 17 goals.
Ziyech has won the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup, Johan Cruyff Shield, and the Europa League with Ajax. He won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea, including several individual awards.
After announcing his retirement from international football, he is set to make a return and will play for the Moroccan national team in their friendly matches in September 2022.
