 Iajour interviewed on 30 April 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mouhcine Iajour[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 June 1985[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Casablanca, Morocco | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Renaissance Zemamra | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| 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 | Moghreb 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) |
| 2021– | Renaissance Zemamra | ||
| 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 football striker[2] who currently plays for RS Berkane and the Moroccan national team.
In 2013, Iajour became the first African footballer to be FIFA Club World Cup's top scorer and Bronze Ball, advancing with Raja Casablanca into the final played against European champions Bayern Munich.[3] Previously, only Congolese Dioko Kaluyituka won the Silver Ball in 2010.[4]
Iajour began his career at his hometown club Raja Casablanca, in 2003. After staying there for four years, he moved to FC Chiasso.
In August 2007 when the Arabian Clubs Tournament was finished, Mouhcine decided to stay in Switzerland without the permission of his club Raja Casablanca. On 28 October 2007, Iajour has appeared for the first time in official match with the team of FC Chiasso.
He returned to Raja Casablanca in 2012. After a season, he won his first league title with Raja. In 2013, Raja qualified to FIFA Club World Cup as league champions of host country. On 11 December 2013, Iajour scored a goal in the 2–1 victory against Auckland City FC, in the play-off for quarter finals. His team eventually defeated Monterrey 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 against Atletico Mineiro in the semi-finals. But in the final, Raja Casablanca was defeated by UEFA Champions League holders, Bayern Munich with 2–0. Iajour become one of the FIFA Club World Cup top scorers for 2013, together with Dario Conca, César Delgado and Ronaldinho. He received the FIFA Club World Cup bronze ball.[3]
On 21 July 2019, Iajour joined the newly promoted Damac in the Saudi Professional League.[5]
In January 2020, Iajour returned to Morocco to play for RS Berkane.[6]
On 4 September 2023, Iajour returned to play in his former club MA Tétouan.[7]
In the 2005 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 to Brazil.
In January 2014, coach Hassan Benabicha, invited him to be a part of the Moroccan squad for the 2014 African Nations Championship.[8] He helped the team to top group B after drawing with Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe and defeating Uganda.[9][10] The team was eliminated from the competition at the quarter final zone after losing to Nigeria.[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 |