Chelsea Star Hakim Ziyech Overcame Childhood Tragedy to Reach Soccer Success

Hakim Ziyech’s life takes a turn at the age of 10. "My father was lying in the living room. He had been sick for some time. I had to go to bed that night, but I wanted to stay with him. Finally, I fell asleep on the edge of his bed. Around midnight, I woke up and went upstairs to my room. [...] A few hours later, around three o’clock, I heard family members crying downstairs," recounts the Moroccan international.

In a statement to De Volskrant, Ziyech said that this [neuromuscular] illness had destroyed his father. The latter could no longer walk, eat or speak.

This part of his history, which dates back to December 2013, when his father, Mohamed, died just after Christmas, will severely affect the star of Ajax Amsterdam. The teenager was very close to his father. This native of Dronten will quickly develop an addiction to alcohol and drugs. To the point of jeopardizing his young football career. At the time, he was playing for the Real Dronten club.

The Moroccan international, whose contract with Ajax Amsterdam runs until June 2022, will join Chelsea’s squad as a midfielder on July 1st. The two clubs have agreed on a £33.3 million (€40 million) transaction.