Cambuur’s Baouf on Brink of world Cup glory, hailed as “One of the Best Defenders in the World” by His Coach
LEEWARDEN, Netherlands – As Morocco prepares for a historic World Cup final against Argentina this Sunday, defender Zaid Baouf, currently starring for Dutch second-division side SC Cambuur, is attracting significant attention – not just for his national team success, but for the glowing praise of his club coach, Henk de Jong, who believes Baouf is “one of the best defenders in the world in his age category.”
Baouf’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Released by Anderlecht’s youth system despite playing for various Belgian youth teams, the Charleroi-born player found a new opportunity at Cambuur on the advice of club scouts. “It is a lot quieter in Leeuwarden than in Brussels, but I really like it here,” Baouf shared months after his transfer. He ultimately chose to represent his Moroccan heritage,drawn to “a project that made me very enthusiastic.”
As arriving in the Netherlands, Baouf has quickly become a fan favorite. He’s demonstrated his impact on the pitch, achieving three clean sheets in his first five games and even contributing a goal. Cambuur is currently the second-highest performing team in the Kitchen Champion Division, fueling hopes of promotion. While Baouf tempers expectations, stating “It is indeed still too early for that…but of course that is the ultimate goal,” the team’s success is undeniable.
His performances haven’t gone unnoticed beyond leeuwarden. Analyst Anco Jansen of ESPN declared Baouf “the best player of the entire youth World Cup,” while ESPN also reported that he is considered by some to be a player top Dutch clubs shoudl pursue. Club icon Sandor van der Heide suggested a potential transfer fee of €5.7 million, excluding bonuses – a figure that would shatter Cambuur’s current outgoing transfer record.
Despite the growing buzz, Baouf remains grounded. “I’m really not concerned with that at all,” he said,modestly apologizing for his English. “I just focus on Morocco and Cambuur.”
That focus is now squarely on the World Cup final. Speaking from Chile, where the Moroccan team is preparing, Baouf expressed confidence ahead of the match. “I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “Am I nervous? No! Everyone is so confident. We really can’t wait to play the final!”
De Jong’s assessment underscores the magnitude of Baouf’s rise. “Baouf is really special,” the Cambuur coach told ESPN last week. “He is a very sweet man, he always pays a lot of attention to everyone…and a very good trainer. I think it’s great that he says that.”
