Ounahi: I Thought About Retiring from Football and Staying at Home

The Moroccan international, Azzedine Ounahi, revealed some of the challenges he faced at the beginning of his football career, affirming that he went through difficult times that made him seriously consider retiring from football and abandoning his dream early on.

In statements made during a documentary program on Al Jazeera before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Girona player spoke about the pressures and obstacles he encountered throughout his career, noting that the difficult circumstances he faced made him consider quitting football on more than one occasion.

Ounahi explained that this period was one of the most difficult times in his life, where he entertained the idea of staying at home and permanently distancing himself from the fields, before reconsidering his future and questioning what he could do away from football.

The Moroccan national team star added that this personal reflection motivated him to hold onto his dream and continue the path he started years ago, deciding to persist in playing football despite all the challenges he faced.

The graduate of the Mohammed VI Football Academy confirmed that academics were among the fields in which he excelled, but he ultimately chose to prioritize his great passion for football. This decision later led him to represent the Moroccan national team and play professionally in European stadiums.