CASABLANCA: He was announced as one of the stars of the Moroccan selection for this 2022 World Cup and from his first match, he did not fail to prove it. From his first match against the Croats of Modric, Yassine Bounou, the goalkeeper of the Atlas Lions, proved to be an insurmountable wall. We remember in particular the magnificent save of the Moroccan goalkeeper who interposed himself with his whole body in front of Vlasic to keep Morocco alive just before half-time. His performance during this match will earn him the admiration of many football fans.
Who is this character considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world? Where does he come from? Where did he learn the ropes? A look back at the career of a goalkeeper who is following in the footsteps of a former legend in the history of Moroccan and African football, the 1986 African Golden Ball, Badou Zaki.
From Montreal to Casablanca
It was in Montreal, Canada, on April 5, 1991, that little Yassine took his first breath of oxygen, making him a dual national since his parents were Moroccan. At the age of two, he moved to Casablanca, Morocco and more precisely to the Mers Sultan neighborhood.
It was in the streets of this neighborhood that young Bounou touched his first footballs and regularly played football with his neighborhood friends.
From the age of 8, his father enrolled him in the football academy of the legendary Wydad in Casablanca. It will not take more than two years for Yassine Bounou to participate in his first competition, the Casa Cup. Standing out for his large size for his age, and his excellent reflexes, the coach quickly assigned him the position of goalkeeper. This is how the sporting career of Bounou began, who spent more than a decade in the youth category of Wydad in Casablanca while attending the Lycée Lyautey in Casablanca.
Professional debut
Yassine Bounou could have launched his professional career in 2009 at OGC Nice, but his training club, Wydad, was not yet ready to part with his nugget. In 2010, at the age of 19, Bounou was finally called up to the first team to support a Wydad legend, Nadir Lamyaghri.
The young goalkeeper is regularly on the substitutes’ bench, but an injury to Nadir Lamyaghri allowed Bounou, on November 12, 2011, to start for his first match with the Wydad AC first team. It was in front of 80,000 supporters, for the return final of the Champions League at the El Menzah Olympic Stadium against Esperance of Tunis, that Bounou kept the Wydad goals for the first time. Despite a defeat for his team, the young goalkeeper made a good impression.
In June 2012, his contract with Wydad AC ended for the Casablanca player who would not have the opportunity to show the extent of his talent, remaining in the shadow of Nadir Lamyaghri. This did not prevent him from attracting the interest of several European teams.
The Spanish adventure
On June 15, 2012, Yassine Bounou signed a one-year contract with Atlético de Madrid as third goalkeeper behind Thibaut Courtois and Daniel Aranzubía. He plays most of his matches as a reserve team playing in the Spanish D3. After the departure in 2014 of Thibaut Courtois, current best goalkeeper in the world, and Daniel Aranzubía (Atlético’s number two goalkeeper), Yassine Bounou was promoted to the first team as second goalkeeper after Jan Oblak, without getting minutes. A disappointment for the Moroccan who is demanding his quick departure for a club where he will find his place as a starter.
On September 1, 2014, Yassine Bounou was loaned for one season to Real Zaragoza in the Spanish D2. Yassine Bounou played a total of 19 league games and finished in 6th place in the Spanish D2 rankings. He returned for a second year with Real Zaragoza. He finished the 2015-16 season in 8th place in the Spanish D2 championship.
On July 12, 2016, Bounou transferred and signed a three-year contract at Girona FC. He played his first match of the 2016-17 season on August 21, 2016 against Sevilla Atlético in the Segunda División (draw, 3-3). For the first time in its history, Girona FC reached La Liga for the first time after a draw against Zaragoza (0-0) in the play-offs which validated the club’s rise. Bounou’s mark is clearly visible, he is considered one of the architects of this rise in La Liga, he plays 21 matches as a starter.
Following a great season for Girona in La Liga, Bounou managed to reveal himself in the Spanish championship, winning the first personal distinction of his club career and honoring the prize for the best African player in Spain awarded by France Football. He is also a member of the 2018 Maghreb team of the year, also awarded by France Football.
On January 14, 2019, Yassine Bounou extended his contract at Girona FC until mid-2021. He played a total of 32 league matches and finished the season in 18th place in the championship and saw the club relegated to Spanish D2. However, Yassine Bounou inherits the interest of several European clubs including PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla FC, and does not want to play in D2 again.
From number 3 goalkeeper to the Zamora Trophy
As in his debut with Atlético Madrid, Bounou had to resolve to polish the substitutes’ bench when he joined Sevilla FC. But a combination of circumstances, notably when his competitor was injured in the middle of the 2019-20 season, Yassine Bounou put on the gloves to play a large part of the matches in the second part of the season.
On July 12, 2020, he even provided an assist to Youssef En-Nesyri against RCD Mallorca. On August 21, 2020, he won the Europa League against Inter Milan after distinguishing himself with his decisive saves in the semi-final against Manchester United.
On September 4, 2020, Sevilla FC exercised the purchase option for Bounou, now tied to the club until 2024, rewarding the good performances of the Moroccan international.
In February 2021, Bounou made club history after not conceding a goal for 528 minutes in La Liga; surpassing Beto’s record of 516 minutes, obtained in 2015. The following month, a rare occurrence for a goalkeeper, Bounou scored the first goal of his professional career against Real Valladolid: trailing 1-0 in added time of the second half , Sevilla benefits from a corner where the ball ends up at the feet of the Moroccan who takes a left strike at the entrance to the six-meter line and allows his team to snatch an unexpected draw.
Bounou’s consecration will come in April 2022, when he wins the Zamora Trophy ahead of his championship rival Thibaut Courtois. The Zamora Trophy recognizes the best goalkeeper in the Spanish championship over a season.
On October 17, 2022, on the occasion of the presentation of the Golden Ball distributed at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Thibaut Courtois won the Yachine Trophy, to the detriment of Yassine Bounou, who came in 8th position.
The Lion’s Claws
It was from 2019 that Yassine became an indispensable element with the Atlas Lions. After a failed African Cup of Nations (CAN), Bounou is guaranteed to keep the Lions cages for the World Cup. It is also one of the centerpieces of the new coach, Walid Regragui. On November 10, 2022, he officially appeared in the list of 26 players selected by Walid Regragui to take part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
For its opening match, the Moroccan team would not have been able to snatch a draw without the characteristic heroism of its goalkeeper. His confidence in goal reassures the defenders, and his charisma helps to mobilize the troops. If Morocco manages to qualify for the quarter-finals, it will undoubtedly be, in large part, thanks to Yassine Bounou.
