 Iajour interviewed on 30 April 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mouhcine Iajour[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-06-14)14 June 1985 (age 39)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Casablanca, Morocco | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | MA Tétouan | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2007 | Raja Casablanca | 42 | (7) |
| 2007–2008 | Chiasso | 19 | (7) |
| 2008–2010 | Charleroi | 28 | (4) |
| 2010–2012 | Wydad Casablanca | 64 | (20) |
| 2012–2014 | Raja Casablanca | 75 | (28) |
| 2014–2015 | MA Tétouan | 26 | (18) |
| 2015–2016 | Qatar SC | 15 | (8) |
| 2016 | →Al Ahli (loan) | 13 | (10) |
| 2016–2017 | Al Khor | 18 | (5) |
| 2017–2019 | Raja Casablanca | 93 | (53) |
| 2019–2020 | Damac | 12 | (3) |
| 2020–2021 | RS Berkane | 24 | (10) |
| 2022 | Renaissance Zemamra | ||
| 2022–2023 | RC Oued Zem | ||
| 2023– | MA Tétouan | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2003–2004 | Morocco U-20 | 17 | (9) |
| 2004–2015 | Morocco | 16 | (7) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2017 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 November 2017 | |||
Mouhcine Iajour (Arabic:محسن ياجور; born 14 June 1986) is a Moroccan footballstriker[2] who currently plays forBotola clubMA Tétouan.
In 2013, Iajour became the first African footballer to beFIFA Club World Cup's top scorer andBronze Ball, advancing withRaja Casablanca into the final played against European championsBayern Munich.[3] Previously, only CongoleseDioko Kaluyituka won the Silver Ball in 2010.[4]
Iajour began his career at his hometown clubRaja Casablanca, in 2003. After staying there for four years, he moved toFC Chiasso.
In August 2007 when the Arabian Clubs Tournament was finished, Mouhcine decided to stay inSwitzerland without the permission of his clubRaja Casablanca. On 28 October 2007, Iajour has appeared for the first time in official match with the team ofFC Chiasso.
He returned toRaja Casablanca in 2012. After a season, he won his first league title with Raja. In 2013, Raja qualified toFIFA Club World Cup as league champions of host country. On 11 December 2013, Iajour scored a goal in the 2–1 victory againstAuckland City FC, in the play-off for quarter finals. His team eventually defeatedMonterrey with 2–1 in the quarter finals to pass in the semi-finals. On 18 December 2013, he scored a goal in the historical 3–1 victory againstAtletico Mineiro in the semi-finals. But in the final, Raja Casablanca was defeated byUEFA Champions League holders,Bayern Munich with 2–0. Iajour become one of the FIFA Club World Cup top scorers for 2013, together withDario Conca,César Delgado andRonaldinho. He received theFIFA Club World Cup bronze ball.[3]
On 21 July 2019, Iajour joined the newly promotedDamac in theSaudi Professional League.[5]
In January 2020, Iajour returned to Morocco to play forRS Berkane.[6]
On 4 September 2023, Iajour returned to play in his former clubMA Tétouan.[7]
In the2005 FIFA World Youth Championship Iajour has scored three goals and helped Morocco to move to the semi-finals, where they were defeated 3–0 by Nigeria.Morocco ended the tournament in fourth place after a 2–1 loss toBrazil.
In January 2014, coachHassan Benabicha, invited him to be a part of theMoroccan squad for the2014 African Nations Championship.[8] He helped the team to top group B after drawing withBurkina Faso andZimbabwe and defeatingUganda.[9][10] The team was eliminated from the competition at the quarter final zone after losing toNigeria.[11][12]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 November 2014 | Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium,Rabat, Morocco |  Switzerland | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 2. | 20 January 2014 | Cape Town Stadium,Cape Town, South Africa |  Uganda | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2014 African Nations Championship |
| 3. | 25 January 2014 |  Nigeria | 2–0 | 3–4 (a.e.t.) | ||
| 4. | 7 September 2014 | Stade de Marrakech,Marrakesh, Morocco |  Libya | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 5. | 13 October 2014 |  Kenya | 3–0 | 3–0 | ||
| 6. | 16 November 2014 | Stade Adrar,Agadir, Morocco |  Zimbabwe | 2–1 | 2–1 | |
| 7. | 21 June 2015 | Stade Mohammed V,Casablanca, Morocco | Libya | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2016 African Nations Championship qualification |