Club history
Founders, internationals, heroes of the great days and lifelong servants: the figures who have made IZK since 1941, in chronological order.
Entries written by supporters, based on Mohamed Baïchit’s book (2023), RSSSF and the Moroccan press. Only the club’s own announcements are authoritative.
الحاج حمو المشاط
A co-founder of the club in 1941, Hadj Hammou El Machatt, known as “Hbibit”, played in the team of the 1940s. In 1956 he became its first Moroccan president and had the name Ittihad Zemmouri registered. At his request, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan agreed to become the club’s honorary president. A governor, then a colonel in Civil Protection, he was born in 1919 and died in August 1980.1
موراليس
Head of the export department at the Khémisset grain cooperative, the SCAM, Moralès was president of the club at its founding in 1941, at the age of 25. He also coached the team and sometimes kept goal. He returned to the presidency in 1945-1946, then coached the team again from 1947 to 1949.2
إدريس بنبوبكر
Nicknamed “Baqchich” for his speed, Driss Benboubker was among the team’s first Moroccan players, in 1944, and wore the Khémisset shirt from 1947 to 1958, in more than 200 matches. He wrote out by hand the list of “the first football team of the year 1946/1947”. His son Lotfi was one of the forwards in the side that won promotion in 2000.
علي بنقاسم
In 1944 Ali Benkacem was among the team’s first Moroccan players, along with Essabounji, Driss Benboubker, Benaïssi Ben Driss, Bartout and Driss El Alem. As much an athlete as a footballer, he was known in Khémisset as “the runner”. His name appears on the club’s player lists throughout the 1940s.
بنعيسي بن إدريس
Benaïssi Ben Driss was one of the team’s first Moroccan players, in 1944, and played more than 200 matches for the club. In 1955 he coached a rebuilt team as player-coach. He stayed on the bench in the 1960s, alongside Mohamed Khalef and Abdelkader El Boulissi.
حمادي حميدوش
Born in Tiddas, near Khémisset, Hammadi Hamidouch started out in IZK’s youth categories in the 1950s. He left for France, to join Red Star, in 1959, then played for CODM de Meknès and FAR. He was a Moroccan international from 1961 to 1970.3
لحسن بوخريص
Lahcen Boukhriss kept goal for IZK from 1959-1960, then in the 1962 promotion to the second division, and played more than 200 matches for the club. In December 1975 he became assistant to the former international Hassan Akesbi. He later coached the team in 1978-1980 and from 1986 to 1989.4
أحمد بلبشير
A star player of the years 1957-1965, Ahmed Belbachir, known as “Mikhou”, was part of the team that won promotion to the second division for the first time, in 1962, with the goalkeeper Lahcen Boukhriss, Ahmed Benomar and Moussa Barrhou. He played more than 200 matches for IZK.5
إبراهيم حسن وهناش
IZK’s goalscorer from 1957 to 1965, Brahim Hassan Ouhennach scored 56 goals for the club, the fourth-highest total in its history, behind Noureddine Belhoucine, Hamid El Hattab and Hamid Tabach. He played more than 200 matches, alongside Ahmed Belbachir and Ahmed Benomar, the other stars of the period.6
أحمد المنصوري
Ahmed El Mansouri played almost his entire career at IZK, leaving only in 1970-1971, for FUS. He kept goal in the 1972 promotion to the first division and in the Throne Cup final of 22 July 1973. An international, he played at the 1971 Mediterranean Games. He coached the team in 1986-1988, with Lahcen Boukhriss, and died in March 2020.7
نور الدين بلحسين
The number 10 and captain of the 1970 generation, Noureddine Belhoucine started the 1973 Throne Cup final. He is the club’s all-time top scorer, with 67 goals, and played more than 200 matches. For the national team, he was kept out of his position by Petchou, Anfal, Dolmy and Bamous.
حميد طباش
Hamid Tabach belonged to the generation of the 1972 promotion and the 1973 final. He scored 59 goals for IZK, the third-highest total in the club’s history, and played more than 200 matches. He returned to the club as president in 1985-1986, in years when no player was paid.
حميد الحطاب
A forward of the 1970 generation, Hamid El Hattab scored 62 goals for IZK, the second-highest total in the club’s history, and played more than 200 matches. In 1972-1973, the club’s first season in the first division, his goal gave them a 1-0 win over MAS in Khémisset. He started the Throne Cup final on 22 July 1973.
أحمد بوزبوز
On 22 July 1973, at the Al Inbiâate Stadium in Agadir, Ahmed Bouzbouz equalised in the 50th minute of the Throne Cup final against FUS de Rabat. It was IZK’s first goal in the only final in their history, which FUS won 3-2. He scored 12 goals for the club.8
مولاي حدو
Having come to notice at the 1970-1971 neighbourhood tournament, during the season the club was suspended, Moulay Haddou scored the “famous Tétouan goal” against the goalkeeper Et-Thami, which secured promotion to the first division in 1972. On 22 July 1973 he scored IZK’s second goal in the Throne Cup final, in the 89th minute. He scored 24 goals for the club.9
عبد الله أحبشان
A left winger, Abdellah Ahbachane, known as “Chliha”, was one of the architects of the first promotion to the first division, in 1972. He played for IZK from 1971 to 1974, in the generation of Moulay Haddou, Noureddine Belhoucine and Hamid El Hattab, the generation of the 1973 Throne Cup final.10
حسن مومن
A product of the club, Hassan Moumen played for IZK in the 1980s, then became its coach on four occasions: in 1991-1992, 1995-1996, 1998-1999 and 2003-2004. Technical director in 2006-2007, the season before the club finished 2nd in the league, he returned in 2020-2021 as general supervisor.11
يحيا الخالدي
An IZK defender in the 1980s, who appears in the team photos of 1984 and 1985, Yahya Khaldi was the club’s president in 1993-1994. That season, the team was threatened with relegation to the amateur ranks and stayed up. He is one of the former players who went on to become president of the club.12
حفيظ جبار
An IZK player in the 1980s and 1990s, Hafid Jabbar, known as “the doyen”, scored both goals in a 2-1 Throne Cup win over MAS in the early 1990s. As a youth coach, he then prepared the young players whom the president Mohamed El Guertili brought into the first team from 1995.13
عزيز لكراوي
Aziz Lagraoui played for IZK before leaving for FUS in 1992, then came back and was part of the squad that won promotion in 2000. He captained the 2007-2008 team that finished second in the league. As a coach, he secured survival in D2 with Khalid Lamkhantar in 2016, then knocked FAR out of the Throne Cup on 1 September 2018 (1-0).14
عبد الإله جعنان
Abdelilah Jaânane kept goal for IZK on 10 June 2000 at the El Massira Stadium in Salé, in the 0-0 draw with Union de Sidi Kacem that secured promotion to the first division. He played more than 200 matches for the club. In 2003-2004 he left to play abroad, like five other regulars.
خالد باخوش
“Goalscorer of the shadow division”, Khalid Bakhouch stayed at IZK around 1998, as the president Mohamed El Guertili turned down an offer from CODM. A starter in the 0-0 draw in Salé that secured promotion in 2000, he scored twice in the 5-1 win over Kénitra AC on 16 November 2003, then 7 goals in 2004-2005. He was still there for the return to the first division in 2011, with more than 200 matches for the club.
يامين وهدي
A starter in the 0-0 draw in Salé on 10 June 2000 that secured promotion to the first division, Yamine Ouahdi was also part of the squad that went back up in 2011, and was injured in the celebrations after the decisive match. He played more than 200 matches for IZK. In March 2024 he took charge of the team as caretaker.
توفيق لمرابط
A member of the squad that won promotion in 2000, Taoufik Lamrabet played more than 200 matches for IZK. He scored against Wydad in 2002 and against Kénitra AC in 2003, then, on the final matchday of 2009-2010, converted a penalty taken after twenty minutes of stoppage time, which was not enough to avoid relegation. He coached the team from December 2018 to October 2019, then from August 2021.
الحسين عموتة
Born in Khémisset on 24 October 1969, Houcine Ammouta made his first-team debut in 1988, then left for FUS in 1990; he won 5 caps between 1991 and 1994. Back on 31 October 2002 as player-coach, he became head coach in 2005. In 2007-2008 he led IZK to 2nd place in the league, the best finish in the club’s history, which opened the way to the 2009 African campaign.
خالد المخنتر
A product of the club, Khalid Lamkhantar played for IZK in the 1990s, then became Houcine Ammouta’s assistant and fitness coach. In 2009 he took over the bench between the two legs against Asante Kotoko and took IZK through, 2-0 at the 18 November Stadium on 5 April. With Aziz Lagraoui, he secured survival in D2 in 2016, then coached the team again in 2023.
عصام بادة
Born in Khémisset in 1983 and trained at the club, Issam Badda kept goal for IZK from 2000 to 2010. In October 2009 he was among the forty players named in a preliminary national squad by Hassan Moumen, while playing for IZK. He joined FUS in June 2010.
هشام الفتحي
Born in Khémisset, Hicham El Fatihi played for IZK from 2001 to 2010. In 2007-2008 he scored 8 goals, including the winner in the 1-0 victory over Wydad on the 26th matchday, which knocked Wydad out of the title race. On 15 March 2009, in Sekondi, he scored the first goal in the club’s history in African competition. He left for FUS in 2010.
عبد الله بلبكري
Born in Azrou in 1976, Abdellah Belbekri was one of the mainstays of the IZK side of the 2000s. In 2007-2008 he scored the second goal in the 2-1 win over Raja at the 18 November Stadium, in front of 3,600 spectators. He started on 5 April 2009, when IZK knocked out Asante Kotoko, and was part of the squad that went back up in 2011.15
إدريس بلعمري
Born in Khémisset in 1982, Driss Belaamri was an IZK forward from 2002 to 2009. In a 2-1 win over Hassania d’Agadir, he scored both Zemmouri goals, one of them a penalty. In 2007-2008 he set up Hicham El Fatihi for the 1-0 against Wydad. After moving to MAS de Fès, he scored in the Throne Cup final on 25 November 2010, then in 2011 became the first Zemmouri player to sign for Raja de Casablanca.16
محمد الشيحاني
Born in Khémisset in 1982, Mohamed Chihani was IZK’s star midfielder of the 2000s. He played from 2003 and took part in the 2009 African campaign, against Asante Kotoko and then Stade Malien. After moving to MAS de Fès, he played for Morocco on 14 November 2009 in Fez, against Cameroon, in World Cup qualifying. He later left for the Gulf.17
عادل فهيم
Born in Khémisset in 1983, Adil Fahim played for IZK from 2003 to 2009. On 12 April 2008 he scored the winner in the 81st minute of a 2-1 victory away to MAS, which put the team in 2nd place. On 1 July 2009 his two goals against IR Fkih Ben Salah (2-0) sent IZK into the Throne Cup semi-finals. After moving to MAS, he was named in a preliminary national squad in October 2009.18
الحسين أمسا
IZK’s goalkeeper, Houssine Amssa played all 30 matches of the 2010-2011 season, which ended with the return to the first division. On 22 May 2011 he kept a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw with USM Aït Melloul, in front of around 12,000 spectators, and was injured in the celebrations that followed. He also played for CODM and Chabab El Massira, and was still IZK’s goalkeeper in 2016.19
