The head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, Herve Renard, has exclusively told Telecom Asia that Morocco international Achraf Hakimi is the best full-back in the world after helping PSG win the UEFA Champions League.
Hakimi scored the opening goal in PSG’s historic 5–0 win over Inter Milan.
Renard, the man who gave Hakimi his debut in Morocco when he first burst onto the scene, says the defender is the best in his position and recent performances in Europe only confirm that.
He told Telecom Asia:
For me, he’s easily the best left-back in the world at the moment. He played for us (Morocco) before he even made his Real Madrid debut.
That’s how sure we were that he was going to be a great player and an important figure in world football. I think it was in 2016- he was just around 17 or 18, but it was already clear that he was fearless.
He instantly spoke about how he wanted to be an important player in the game. I think he’s made some really brave decisions in his career, but for me, I’m not surprised that people are now starting to take notice of him.
Renard, who has worked with top talent during his time coaching Zambia and Ivory Coast, says Hakimi is without a doubt the best right-back in the world.
But he also played as a left-back during the 2018 World Cup, and did not look out of place.
Renard added:
When we went to the World Cup in Russia, I played him on the left and the quality was still there.
He could cross the ball with both feet, and in training, he would stay behind to work on his finishing even when other defenders had already left.
He always gives more. It's clear to see how he’s been able to excel and maintain a starting position wherever he’s been, be it at Inter, Dortmund, or now at PSG.
What has surprised many recently is how Hakimi has handled the off-field challenges and football politics with such composure.
He was at Inter Milan during the era of Neymar, Mbappe, and Messi, but in their absence, he has stepped up and taken on a leadership role continuing to thrive.
Renard says Hakimi's unshakable self-belief is what sets him apart.
He’s very determined and believes in himself. So, even though he respects his teammates, he always handles everything professionally. Every now and then, we exchange messages and I’m really proud of his achievements.
