Who is Yassine Bounou, the Moroccan goalie who won the hearts of fans during the World Cup?

Who is Yassine Bounou, the Moroccan goalie who won the hearts of fans during the World Cup?

Kevin Omuya
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:21 PM

Everyone in Morocco kept their fingers crossed for a successful run in the 2022 World Cup, and they have Yassine Bounou to thank for much of that optimism. Since he was named La Liga's top goalie for the 2021-22 season, he has been the subject of several inquiries concerning his identity.

Yassine Bounou's age
Yassine Bounou of Morocco in the penalty shoot against Spain in the Quarter of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Education City Stadium on December 6, 2022, in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo: James Williamson
Source: Getty Images

Goalkeeper Bounou was crucial to Morocco's success at the World Cup 2022. He helped his team to the quarterfinals by stopping penalty kicks from Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets, both of whom were on the Spanish team. Morocco made history as the first African team to go to the World Cup semifinals, largely thanks to Bounou's heroic saves.

Yassine Bounou's profile and bio summary

Title

Details

Full name

Yassine Bounou

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

5th April 1991

Age

31 years (as of December 2022)

Place of birth

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Current residence

Spain

Nationality

Canadian

Height

6"4' (192cm)

Weight

78kgs

Eye colour

Brown

Hair colour

Black

Foot

Right

Religion

Islam

Marital status

Married

Profession

Football player

Position

Goalkeeper

Net worth

$5 million

Social media

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

Bono, whose real name is Yassine Bounou, is a professional football goalkeeper for the Moroccan national team. During the 2010–2011 season, he made his professional debut with Wydad Casablanca. The goalkeeper played with Wydad Casablanca for two years, making nine appearances.

Yassine Bounou's age and height

On 5 April 1991, Bono, originally from Canada was born. His birthplace was the city of Montreal. The 31-year-old Moroccan keeper has been in the league for a while. He stands at a towering 6 feet, 4 inches. The keeper uses his height to significant effect, making spectacular saves.

Yassine Bounou's biography
Yassine Bounou Bono of Sevilla FC during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 28, 2021, in Madrid, Spain. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images

In 2012-2013, he signed up with the Atlético Madrid B club. His play won him a spot on the Atlético Madrid first team and then a loan to Real Zaragoza. After signing with Girona, he spent only a brief time on loan at Zaragoza. In doing so, he assisted Girona in gaining promotion to La Liga from the Spanish second tier, the Segunda División.

Having helped Girona gain promotion to La Liga, Sevilla subsequently signed him on loan. Due to his outstanding play while on loan to Sevilla, he is now the starting goalkeeper for Sevilla.

Yassine Bounou's height
Yassine Bounou of Sevilla dives to make a save during the LaLiga Santander match at Camp Nou on April 03, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: David Ramos
Source: Getty Images

Yassine Bounou's career

Since he first appeared in a game in 2010–2011, he has enormously affected every team he has played for. As a goalkeeper, he has scored a goal.

He contributed to Sevilla's 2019–2020 UEFA Europa League championship team. In addition, he was awarded the Zamora Trophy for Best Keeper in La Liga that season. He has been the starting goalkeeper for the Moroccan National Team since 2013.

Yassine Bounou's salary

He earns about $948,948 per year. As of December 2022, the Canadian-Moroccan goalkeeper is expected to be worth approximately $5 million.

Is Yassine Bounou married?

Is Yassine Bounou married?
Yassine Bounou and his family in Seville, Spain. Photo: @bounouyassine_bono on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

His wife is Imane Khb. The 20th of September 2017 marked the first time the couple was seen together. In her role as a social media influencer, Imane promotes a wide range of products and services through her profile. She has a soft spot for furry friends and was born in the Moroccan city of Casablanca.

Who is Yassine Bounou’s child?

The couple has a son named Isaac. The parents have tried to keep their son's identity a secret other than his name.

Transfer news

Following his incredible World Cup exploits in Qatar, Yassine continues to garner the notice of high-calibre European clubs. Manchester United is the latest elite European club to express an interest in the Moroccan goalkeeper.

Coach Erik ten Hag of Manchester United was reportedly interested in signing him before the World Cup. Still, the Moroccan player's repeated heroics in Qatar sealed the deal, as reported by Elgoldigital on Sunday.

Yassine Bounou's awards

Yassine Bounou's awards
Sevilla's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou holds the trophy after winning the UEFA Europa League final football match Sevilla v Inter Milan on August 21, 2020, in Cologne, western Germany. Photo: Lars Baron
Source: Getty Images
  • La Liga Zamora Trophy: 2021–22
  • UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2019–20
  • La Liga Mid-Season African MVP: 2021–22
  • La Liga African MVP: 2021–22
  • CIES La Liga Team of the Season: 2021–22
  • Best Moroccan goalkeeper abroad: 2021–22

Yassine Bounou's current team

After being relegated from the Catalans on 2 September 2019, he signed a one-year loan with Spanish top-flight club Sevilla FC. He was pivotal to the team's 2019-20 UEFA Europa League championship and domestic cup success.

Bono signed a four-year, non-ending deal with the Andalusians on September 4, 2020. A year later, on March 21, he scored his first goal as a professional goalie, rescuing his team from defeat against Real Valladolid in the 94th minute.

Yassine Bounou’s penalty episode

Yassine Bounou’s penalty episode
Team Morocco celebrates by carrying their goalkeeper Yassine after defeating Spain on penalties at Education City Stadium on 06 December 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo: Ayman Aref
Source: Getty Images

The sportsman's prowess was displayed when he became the first Arab goalie in World Cup history to save two of three penalty penalties in a single match, which he did while protecting Morocco's goal against Spain. With the victory, Morocco became only the fourth African nation to advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

“We felt the support of our fans, be it in Morocco or any other country in the world,” an elated Bounou shared at the time.

Yassine Bounou of Morocco became the first African goalie to have three clean sheets at a single World Cup. Fans of the beautiful game all over the globe have taken notice of Bounou's World Cup performance and are impressed.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.