Wydad Signs Portuguese Paulo Brito to Lead the Team

Wydad Casablanca has officially announced the appointment of Portuguese coach Paulo Brito as the new head coach of the first team, signing a contract that extends for one season, in a new step as part of their preparations for the upcoming phase.

This appointment comes to succeed Moroccan Mohamed Benchrifa, who temporarily led the team at the end of last season, before the red club finalized its choice of the Portuguese coach to take charge of the technical bench.

Wydad Casablanca confirmed in an official statement that this decision is part of the club's direction towards opening a new sporting chapter, characterized by technical stability, clear vision, and enhanced competitiveness, aligning with the team's ambitions, history, and stature.

Wydad Casablanca has welcomed Paulo Sergio Brito into the family, wishing him all the best and success in his new role.

Brito is the first Portuguese to take charge of Wydad since José Romão in the 2005-2006 season, bringing Portuguese management back to the team after a long absence.

The new coach has a managerial career that extends back to 2003, featuring notable stints with Sporting Lisbon and Vitória de Guimarães, along with experiences at Scottish side Hearts, Romanian club Cluj, and Cypriot team APOEL.

Brito has had several experiences in the Arab region, starting in 2016 with Dibba Al Fujairah in the UAE, then moving to Al Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, before his latest stop with Al Okhdood in the last season.

Throughout his coaching career, the Portuguese manager has won two titles: the Scottish Cup in 2011-2012 with Hearts, and the Cypriot Super Cup with APOEL in 2013.

This change comes at a time when Wydad went through three coaches last season, starting with Mohamed Amin Benhashim, then Patrice Carteron, before finishing the season under the guidance of Benshrif.

Wydad Casablanca finished the 2025-2026 season in fifth place in the Moroccan league standings, marking a disappointing campaign. This will be the first time since 2015 that the club will miss out on African competitions.