Franco highlights the details of his departure from FUS Rabat in "Hespress Stadium".

Sep 18, 2026

Spanish coach Pablo Franco, who won the Botola Pro title with Maghreb de Fès, revealed details about his departure from the team and the offers he received after the victory. He spoke about the possibility of returning to coach in Morocco, the level of the league and players, and the hopes of "MAS" in continental competitions, in addition to discussing the Africa Cup final between Morocco and Senegal and the controversy surrounding the hosting of the 2030 World Cup final.

In an interview with the "Hespress Stadium" program hosted by colleague Mohamed Amin Matbar, Franco indicated that his return to Morocco was linked to resolving some personal matters in Fès and maintaining his relationships in the football community. He affirmed that his time in the kingdom was one of his best experiences both professionally and personally, and that he would return to visit whenever he had the chance.

He described his championship win with Maghreb de Fès as an achievement that will remain in his memory for life, given the long wait for the club and the city for the title. He noted that the team was not a contender from the start, considering that the value of what was achieved was also tied to the style of play, the character shown by the group, and the relationship that developed with the fans.

Franco ranked the Moroccan league among the top titles he has won during his career, despite previously winning competitions in other countries and participating in continental tournaments in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He stated that he had previously told Spanish media that, in his opinion, the level of the Moroccan league has become higher than that of several European leagues outside the major ones.

Departure from "MAS"

Regarding his departure from Maghreb de Fès after the championship win, Franco explained that the decision was due to professional and personal reasons. He felt that after the season ended, it was the right time to leave, denying any feelings of regret and avoiding further details about the reasons that led him to this decision.

He believed that the outcome of his experience was more important than the reasons for leaving, pointing to the development of the players and the results achieved. He estimated that the value of the team composition increased by about 25 percent during the season, in addition to the relationship he built with the fans and the city of Fès.

Franco praised the role of the club's management in the championship win, emphasizing that financial stability, support, and patience were factors that helped the coaching staff. He specifically mentioned the team's officials and former sporting director Badr Kaddouri, commending the efforts made during a period that saw a transformation in the club compared to the conditions he found upon his arrival.

He did not rule out returning to coach Maghreb de Fès, stating that the doors of the team remain open for him, and that his relationship with Fès goes beyond sports results to become linked to the city and its people.

Franco revealed that after the championship win, he received calls from clubs in Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and the Gulf region, ranging from initial contacts to discussions and offers, some made directly and others through agents.

He attributed his lack of commitment to a new team to his desire to choose his next step carefully, confirming that a return to the Moroccan league is possible whenever the "right project at the right time" is available.

The Moroccan Player

Franco described the national league as strong and competitive, noting the difficulty of its matches and the results of Moroccan clubs in African competitions. He also praised the stadiums and sports infrastructure, while pointing out the varying quality of some playing surfaces.

He identified scheduling as one of the aspects that, in his opinion, needs improvement, noting the frequent stoppages during the season and the lack of clarity regarding the dates of some matches, which affects the planning of coaching staff for preparation and recovery programs.

When asked about the team he faced difficulties with during the season, he chose Raja Casablanca, noting that the Green team excelled at certain points in the first leg match due to the quality of their performance and their ability to create numerical superiority, which led him to adopt a more defensive approach than usual.

He added that Maghreb de Fès also had opportunities during the encounter, scoring a disallowed goal, and one of their attempts hit the post, while he considered that the short time affected the preparation for the second leg, describing Raja as one of the teams he enjoys watching play.

In a quick-fire question segment, Franco chose Alphonso Davies as his answer to the question about the toughest team or coach he faced during the season, and selected Soufiane Benjdida as the best Moroccan player he coached.

When discussing the standout players in the league, he placed the players of Maghreb de Fès at the forefront due to their development during the season, mentioning several players from FAR Rabat, Raja, Wydad, and RS Berkane, explaining the difficulty of narrowing down the names that impressed him.

Franco believes that the Moroccan player possesses quality, intelligence, competitive spirit, and readiness to work, but needs to improve his tactical understanding of what happens on the pitch in some cases. He explained that his staff focused with the "MAS" players on understanding the reasons behind movements and decisions while maintaining their individual strengths.

Regarding Soufiane Benjdida's transfer to Al Ahly, Franco refused to judge the player's decision as right or wrong, noting that he moved to a big club and faces strong competition. He called for giving him time to adapt, expressing confidence in his ability to seize his opportunity and score goals.

On the upcoming season for Maghreb de Fès, he considered that the team now has a deeper squad after signing players capable of competing for starting positions, giving them options to participate in multiple competitions.

He believes that "MAS" has the qualities that allow it to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League, considering that reaching the quarter-finals is possible, linking the next stages to the strength of the competitors and the draw, while avoiding predicting the team's final path.

Africa Cup Final and World Cup 2030

Franco spoke about the Africa Cup final between Morocco and Senegal, confirming that he watched the match from inside the stadium, praising the organization of the tournament, the stadiums, the fan attendance, and the image presented by the competition for African football.

In light of the events surrounding the final stages of the match, he stated that what happened "was not good for football," referring to the refereeing controversy, the video technology, and one of the teams leaving the pitch, considering that those scenes affected the atmosphere that prevailed during the tournament.

The Spanish coach refused to comment on who he considers the Africa champion between Morocco and Senegal, stating that the decision lies with other parties, not him.

He also discussed the controversy surrounding the stadium that will host the 2030 World Cup final, organized by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, saying that, as a Madrid native, he personally hopes the match will be held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Conversely, he spoke about the "great opportunities" for Morocco to host the final, praising the proposed stadium project, confirming that he would also be happy if the match were held in Morocco and would try to attend.

On a personal note, Franco mentioned that what he misses most about Fès is its people. He also chose "tanjia" as one of his favorite Moroccan dishes and noted that he learned some words and expressions in Darija during his stay.

He sent a message to the fans of Maghreb de Fès expressing his love and gratitude to them, urging supporters to continue backing the team and praising the atmosphere they create in the stands.

As for his next destination, Franco declined to predict whether it would be inside Morocco or abroad, confirming that he is currently using this time to follow football, attend training sessions, and develop his skills, waiting for a project with a big club that allows him to return to competing for titles.