Abdellah Ouazane, 17, has earned his maiden Morocco call-up after impressing Ajax’s coaching staff with recent first-team appearances. The attacking midfielder is juggling elite professional football with an MBO education programme and weekly coaching duties, determined to stay grounded as his career accelerates.
Balancing the Classroom and the Pitch
Ouazane’s weekly routine defies typical teenage patterns. He attends lectures, coaches a women’s youth side at WV-HEDW in Amsterdam on Wednesdays, trains daily with Ajax’s senior squad, and completes strength-and-conditioning work—all while preparing for exams. After appearing for 23 minutes in Ajax’s 5-1 victory over Willem II, he headed home late, slept briefly, then returned for morning training.
His commitment to study caught the attention of Julian Brandt, the German international midfielder. When Brandt noticed Ouazane rushing between sessions, he asked why. “I have to go to school,” came the reply. Brandt’s response—”Oh yes, you still go to school”—underlined how rare such dedication is at professional level.
Ouazane travels by public transport across Amsterdam, drawing occasional surprise from fellow commuters who recognize the Ajax teenager on the metro. He finds the situation amusing rather than burdensome. “I’m only 17,” he explained, noting his inability to drive alone.
Thinking Beyond Football
Education serves a deeper purpose for Ouazane than simply maintaining academic credentials. He is already planning a post-playing career as a coach, determined to eventually mentor younger players and transfer his experience to the next generation. This forward-thinking approach reflects his philosophy of staying “connected to the normal things in life” even as professional demands intensify.
That mindset extends to his relationship with supporters. He regularly signs autographs and poses for photographs, remembering his own childhood idol-worship at Ajax. Hakim Ziyech was a player he desperately wanted to meet; he still possesses Amin Younes’ autograph as a keepsake. Those mementos remind him that he recently stood on the opposite side of the barrier.
Morocco Recognition and Season Targets
Morocco’s national team coach Mohamed Ouahbi has selected Ouazane for upcoming fixtures against Gabon, Lesotho, and Ghana—marking his first Lions of the Atlas squad inclusion. The call-up validates his rapid integration into Ajax’s first-team environment.
Ouazane’s stated ambition for the current season centres on securing regular playing minutes rather than merely making cameo appearances. His 23-minute cameo against Willem II represents his competitive exposure so far, but he views the current campaign as an opportunity to establish himself as a consistent option in midfield. For a player who has compressed years of typical development into months, restraint rather than impatience defines his outlook.
