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The history of Raja Club Athletic from 1949 to 1990 covers the period from the club's foundation, through their first period of success 1974 to the 1980s, to the appointment of

Take intro from seasons art.

Add presidents (and managers) - Greens in italic - remove transfermarkt -

Terms: courtesy of a goal - Their defense of the FA Cup ended in the third round - It was Raja's fourth triumph in the annual contest - at the half-way point of the season - year trophy drought - The year 1971 became the long-awaited year of glory

(1964–73)

First finals

File:الاب جيكو.jpeg

Père Jégo, the club's historical figure and manager for more than ten years

Mohamed Khalfi

Mustapha Milazzo

Abdesslam Aamani

Abdesslam Kaaza

Aziz Kebbaj

Rubio

Mohamed Bhaïja

Ali Bendayan

Said Ghandi

Houmane Jarir

Moussa Hanoun

First Throne Cup final
KAC Marrakech 3–1 Raja CA
13 June 1965, Stade Mohammed V (Attendance: 25000)

In 1964–65, despite achieving its worst ranking by finishing twelfth, the team reached the Throne Cup final for the first time. On 13 June 1965, Raja faced Kawkab of Marrakech at Stade d'honneur without their playmaker Hamid Bahij due to a disagreement he had with the board, and lost 3–1. The only goal was scored by Mohamed Bhaïja. During their road to the final, the Greens beat Wydad (2–1) then Raja Beni Mellal in the semi-final (1–0). An interesting fact: the players wore during this match Inter Milan jerseys that were offered by Helenio Herrera, the famous Catenaccio manager who started his football career in Casablanca and appreciated Raja.

In the mid 1960s, a very talented generation emerged from the club's academy that included some of the best players of the club's history; Ali Aliouate, Mohamed Bénini, his cousin Mustapha Petchou, Azzeddine Abderrafi, Hamza Bourezgui, P'tit Omar and the striking duo Saïd Ghandi and Houmane Jarir.

In 1965–66, the rivalry between Raja and Wydad really took its full extent as the two sides competed in an intense season-long title battle. The Reds had a one point lead before the last fixture which pits the Greens against Fath US. Both of them won their respective matches, which gave the title to Wydad. The confrontations between them ended both in draws. Raja finished third in the 1966–67 Botola that returned back to its 16 team-format, and lost to Racing AC in the Cup's quarter final. Houmane Jarir finished top scorer of the league with 18 goals. In 1967–68, they finished again in third position in a 18 teams-season. Still unable to gain their first title, Raja lost the Throne Cup final on 14 July 1968 to Racing that earned their first title of the competition (1–0).

Bad results?

In 1968–69, Raja recorded the worst ranking of their history with a shocking thirteenth place, three points away from the relegation zone. In the Cup, they were defeated by RS Settat in the semi-final. The 1969–70 season ended with a third place and an elimination from the Throne Cup's quarter-finals against SCC Mohammedia.

In the early 1970s, Raja finished eleventh in 1970–71 and tenth in 1971–72 and recorded two consecutive eliminations from the Throne Cup's second round, attesting a very bad form.. Raja improved in 1972–73 and missed out on the title by finishing third, three points behind the leading duo, but failed to get through the Cup's second round.

ADD SMTHG

Decade of cups (1973–83)

First trophies

Ahmed Couscous

Jawad El Andaloussi

Hamza Bourezgi

Brahim Tajli

Mohamed Fakhir

Abdelmajid Dolmy

Abdelhak Fethi

Ahmed Safoui

Mohamed Laarabi

P'tit Omar

Said Ghandi

First Throne Cup title
Raja CA 1–0 Maghreb AS
28 July 1974, Stade Mohammed V (Attendance: 25000)

In 1973–74, Raja lost their league title on the last day to Raja Beni Mellal. On 28 July 1974 at Stade Mohammed V, the Throne Cup final pitted Raja who beat Wydad on penalties, against Maghreb de Fès who eliminated MC Oujda. Under manager Mohamed Tibari and without Petchou that got sent off against Wydad, Raja won 1–0 thanks to a Mohamed Lâarabi's goal in the 35th minute that gave the Eagles their first official trophy.

The following season, Raja missed the title again and finished two points behind the champion, despite having the best attack. Their defense of the Throne Cup ended surprisingly in the first round. Petchou, considered one of the best players of Morocco's history, moved to Wydad in a very controversial transfer, due to some problems with some board members and supporters. Despite his move, he was still attached to Raja and his former teammates, as he was used to changing his clothes in the Oasis Complex before crossing the road to join Wydad's training sessions.

The 1975–76 season was marked by an another third place finish and an elimination from the Cup's semi-final against Fath US. In 1976–77, Raja still failed to do better than a third position but reached the final of the Throne Cup. On 17 July 1977, the Greens beat Difaâ El Jadida 1–0 thanks to a Abdellatif Beggar late penalty that secured the second title of the competition. From 1972 to 1977, Raja finished five times in a row in the podium but could not win their long-awaited first league title.

Regression

During the next two seasons, the move or the retirement of some key players such as Mohamed Bénini, P'tit Omar, and Houmane Jarir hugely impacted the club, leading to a tenth then ninth finishes and two successive eliminations from the Cup's first round in 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons.

Stade Mohammed-V before it was renovated and renamed in 1983 (pictured here in 1961)

In 1978, during a Derby against Wydad at Stade Père Jégo, the referee sent off Raja goalkeeper Najib Mokhles in the 83rd minute after a controversial contact with Mustapha Chahid and whistled a penalty while the score was displaying a 1–1 draw. To everyone's surprise, Abdelmajid Dolmy volunteers to replace him because all the substitutions were used. One opponent tried to give him a red jersey, a gesture that M'hamed Fakhir saw as an humiliation and the players no longer wanted to continue the match, stopping the match. Few days later, the Federation announced a 1–0 loss of Raja, thus ending a 11-match unbeaten since 1973, an absolute Derby record.

NEW PLAYER GEN

In 1979–80, an eighth finish reflects a team that is still struggling to display its full potentiel. In the Cup's quarter-final, a initial draw against Fath US forced the two teams to a replay, which ultimately favored the Fussistes (2–1).

The 1980–81 Botola is the first and only edition in the history of the league which was played with 20 teams. Raja concludes a 38 match-season with a third place behind Kénitra AC and Fath US and an early exit from the Throne Cup against Maghreb de Fès.

Two straight finals and African debut

The beginning of the 1980s was marked by the arrival of a range of players who would make Raja's heyday during the coming decade, including Mustapha El Haddaoui, Hassan Mouahid, Mohamed Nejmi, Saïd Seddiki, Mehdi Mellouk, Redouane Hajry and Abderrahim Hamraoui. On November 26, 1980, Raja faced Southampton FC led by double Golden Ball title holder Kevin Keegan, who had just joined the English from Hamburg SV. Abdelhak Fethi opened the scoring for Raja in the 14th minute before Charlie George equalized for the English in the 76th minute (1-1). In 1980–81, Raja finished third in the championship, then fifth in 1981–82, however, the Greens did not come out empty-handed this season. On 14 March 1982 at the Stade Roches Noirs in Casablanca, with the refereeing of Hassan Chafai, the final of the Throne Cup was played between Raja CA and the Renaissance of Kénitra. And as a sign, it was Abdellatif Beggar who appeared, as in 1977, and scored the only goal of the match on a penalty, and offered Raja the third on his record.

This season will also witness Raja's first appearance on the African scene, more precisely in the African Cup Winners' Cup, opposing the Senegalese AS Police in the first round. The Greens lost in Senegal (1–0), and failed to make up for this delay in the return match in Casablanca which ended in a draw (0–0). Raja CA thus suffers from its inexperience in continental competitions and exits the first round.

In 1982–83, Raja finished 5th in the championship again, and reached the final of the Throne Cup for the second time in a row, and this time crossed swords with Olympique de Casablanca. The final took place on 21 August 1983 in a newly renamed and renovated Mohamed V Stadium on the occasion of the 1983 Mediterranean Games. Raja lost the title 5–4 on penalties, after the match was settled on a draw (1–1).