Former footballer Abdelaziz Barrada has passed away at the young age of 35. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed, but reports in his native Morocco suggest he suffered a heart attack.
Barrada, a versatile midfielder, enjoyed spells with several clubs throughout his career, most notably French outfit Marseille and Spanish side Getafe. He also represented Morocco at both senior and youth levels.
Barrada began his professional career in France with Senart-Moissy before making a move to Spanish club Getafe in 2010. He went on to make over 60 La Liga appearances for Getafe, establishing himself as a key player in their midfield.
In 2014, Barrada signed for French giants Marseille, where he spent two seasons. Though his playing time was limited, he still managed to score two goals in 32 Ligue 1 appearances.
Following his departure from Marseille, Barrada continued his career abroad with stints at Al Nasr (UAE), Antalyaspor (Turkey), Gimnastic (Spain), Al Shahani (UAE), and Lusitanos Saint-Maur (France).
Barrada was a regular for Morocco’s national team, earning 26 caps. He was part of the Morocco U23 squad that finished runners-up at the 2011 Africa Cup of Nations and even emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals.
He also represented his country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The news of Barrada’s passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes from his former clubs and fellow players.
The Moroccan Football Federation described his death as “a great loss” to the national team. Marseille, in a heartfelt message on social media, offered their condolences to Barrada’s family and loved ones, highlighting his contribution to the club during his two-year spell.
Paris Saint-Germain, where Barrada played at a reserve level, also paid their respects to the deceased footballer.
