FAN STORY: Moroccan Valencia CF aficionado Zakariae Alem

Zakariae Alem is a Valencia CF fan in Morocco who has a passion for the club that goes back to when he was 10 years old. His love for all things football has even led to him earning a doctorate. He is the subject of the latest edition of Fan Story.

"When I was a kid, my brother and I used to listen to Moroccan radio. They broadcast the Moroccan league, but also one day they made a mistake and there was a Spanish radio station broadcasting instead. It was a football commentator who was calling a goal in a crazy way. It was something new for us. In an instant, we became fans of LaLiga; it only took a moment," recalls Zakariae.

"Then a team appeared who never gave up, and who turned games around with epic comebacks. It was amazing. That team was Valencia CF. We've been Valencianistas since 1997."

This fandom transcended into his studies, taking him on an educational journey.

"I learned Spanish at school, and continued studying at university. It was always about my love for Valencia CF. Then I took my Masters, and finally my doctorate, which I began in 2015. I received the cum laude recognition for the publication of my thesis, which is the highest honour possible. That was thanks to Valencia CF," he explains.

"When I was a kid, and an adolescent, I played football. I dreamt of being a football and playing for Valencia CF. That dream has gone up in smoke now that I'm 34 years old, but I have other dreams. For example: I want to go to Mestalla. I've never been there, and I want to take a tour and see the players. That will have to wait until the Covid-19 situation that is affecting everybody comes to an end.

"My other dream -which I think is even bigger- is to be a teacher in one of the universities in Valencia. I would be working in my favourite profession, close to my lifelong club."