Abdelaziz Barrada's career trajectory highlights the challenges many professional athletes face, including injuries and adapting to different coaching styles.
His transition from player to consultant underscores the importance of mentorship and knowledge transfer in sports.
Mourning in Football: The Untimely Passing of Abdelaziz Barrada
The football community is grieving the sudden loss of Abdelaziz Barrada, a former Moroccan international and player for Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, who died on October 24, 2024, at the young age of 35 due to a heart attack. Barrada's career began at Paris FC and US Sénart-Moissy before he joined PSG's youth setup in 2007. Although he did not make a first-team appearance, he spent three formative years there before moving to Getafe CF in Spain, where he made a significant impact with eight goals and seven assists during his two seasons.
After his successful stint at Getafe, Barrada transferred to Al-Jazira Sports & Culture Club in the UAE for €8.5 million, where he continued to showcase his talent with ten goals and ten assists. His career took a pivotal turn when he signed with Olympique de Marseille in 2014, under coach Marcelo Bielsa. Despite facing challenges, including injuries and adapting to Bielsa's unconventional methods, Barrada managed to play 35 matches in his second season, contributing two goals and eight assists. However, the team's overall performance was disappointing, finishing thirteenth in Ligue 1.
After leaving Marseille, Barrada had brief spells at Al Nasr in the UAE, Antalyaspor in Turkey, and Gimnàstic de Tarragona in Spain before concluding his playing career in 2021 at US Lusitanos Saint-Maur. Following retirement, he transitioned to a role as a football consultant for RMC Sport and beIN Sports while also obtaining his Football Coaching Certificate, aiming to pursue a coaching career.
His unexpected passing has left a void in the hearts of fans and fellow players alike, marking the end of a promising football journey that began in the youth ranks of PSG and spanned several countries and leagues.
