When we entered the Bahnhofsviertel district, in the heart of Frankfurt, the objective was only one: to tell the story of the social problems of the block, in the area of ​​the central train station of the city, where many Portuguese “landed”. “For the match this Monday, just right. In recent times, The region has been dubbed Germany’s “zombie land,” a nickname given due to the exponential rise in drug use. heavy and leaves the streets full of homeless people looking for their next fix. The Observer saw this reality up close and wanted to know how to run a business in the midst of so much drugs, alcohol, sex and crime.

Drugs, alcohol and sex: Frankfurt’s zombie land, where Portugal will play in the round of 16

After checking into several hotels, where no one wanted to speak anonymously, a green neon sign caught our eye. It was not Portuguese green, and certainly not Slovenian green, and it led us to Broski Burger on Münchener Str. Inside the restaurant, with a new look and nice decor, we tried to talk about the security problems in the neighbourhood and how businesses survive there. But the last sentence of the presentation changed the course of the story: “It’s for a newspaper and a radio station in Portugal.” “Portugal?” answered a man sitting at one of the tables. He was the 37-year-old owner of the restaurant. He came up to me and said, “If you’re from Portugal, sit down. I have something to show you that you’ll like.”

He pulled out his phone, searched, found and showed a photo of himself with Cristiano Ronaldo. How? “It was at the end of our game,” he explained. “Our game?” we asked. After all, who really owned that restaurant? “I am Aziz Bouhaddouz, I played in the 2018 World Cup with Morocco, against Portugal. I was a professional footballer”And so the story of corporate survival in the dangerous Bahnhofsviertel district faded into the background. This is the story of Aziz, the former Moroccan player [seleção que nos eliminou nos quartos de final do Mundial 2002]who knocked Morocco out of the 2018 World Cup with an own goal in the last minute of the match against Iran. Now he sells hamburgers in the most dangerous district of Frankfurt.

“He always said, ‘One day I’ll open a burger joint!’”

Aziz, how did you end up here in the first place?
I’m from here and I came to Frankfurt when I was one year old. I’ve lived here all my life except when I was a professional player. When I finished my degree last year, I came back here and opened my burger joint.

But why in this neighborhood? And on this street?

I found this space three years ago with my partner. And we noticed that on this very important street [a rua da estação central de Frankfurt]there were no burger joints. And so it was. Now there are!

But aren’t these streets dangerous?

No, no, not at all. I know that there are many people who say that these streets are dangerous, but I don’t think so. I think that they are fun streets, full of action. Especially during the games. People don’t need to be afraid. It’s true that there are people who drink too much on the street, but we even have a good police station next door. We are very happy that all of Europe passes through here.

And you have never had any security problems here at the restaurant?

No no. In fact, the only dangerous reason I saw here was when England played the other day, when the English were fighting each other. It’s not as dangerous as people think. This street is super “quiet” [diz com sotaque espanhol].

Yes, this is not even the worst, the worst is the Taunusstraße, isn’t it?

Ah, yes, that one. It’s a famous street. So yes, I would recommend anyone coming from abroad not to go there. Unless you want to. I have had clients come here for dinner and at the end they asked where they could find some “action”. And then I say: “If you want action, it’s not here, it’s on Taunusstraße”. If you’re not looking for that, don’t go there, stay here, as it’s safer. It’s dangerous there.

Let’s talk about the restaurant: when did you come up with this idea and when did it open?

When I was a kid, at 18, I worked at a Burger King. And I have always loved burgers. At that time, I said: “After football, if everything goes well, I will open a burger restaurant.” And I am very happy to have made this dream come true. Of course it is a lot of work, there is always a lot to do, even more so now with the euro.

But is business going well?

Yes, yes, it has been good. The nights have also been warm, people stop here on their walks and take advantage of the opportunity to eat. It has been a very happy experience.

And do you only manage the business or do you also do some tinkering in the kitchen?

No, no, I just run the business! My partner is in the kitchen. We have a system that makes things simple, but it still requires us to be here every day. After all, the restaurant opened only two months ago. Now, with the euro, there is more work because there are more customers, but that’s great. And it’s a new universe for me, until now I’ve only worked in the fields.

And you miss that? From football?

Yes, of course, of course. I miss you very much. I love football. For me it wasn’t work, it was love. But at 37, it was time to stop. But I know I’ll return to football, even without playing. I love it very much.

But to do what?

Agency. In fact, I’ve already started a project, I’m already an agent for three players. I’m just starting, but the important thing is not to sleep. In this industry, if you’re stuck for one or two years after you retire, you’re already late for everything.

The own goal that eliminated Morocco in 2018: “It was very difficult, I received a lot of criticism”

Let’s talk about your career: you were a striker, you played for St. Pauli, Duisburg and Saudi Arabia. What is your best memory from 17 years of football?

It’s my debut with the Moroccan national team. It was a friendly against Albania, I started and even scored, but they ruled me offside. And I wasn’t even there when I saw it! [risos]But hearing the national anthem was spectacular, the feeling was overwhelming. On top of that, it was late, I was 29 when I made my debut. My career was not like that of most players, who start at 16 in big clubs. When I was 18, I was working at Burger King. And that is why I felt proud of that game, it was one of the best.

He then moved to CAN in 2017…

Yes, in Gabon! I still scored a goal and played in every game. We were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Egypt. But when it comes to national team competitions, nothing beats the World Cup!

Bouhaddouz, playing for Morocco, at the 2018 World Cup in Russia

Yes, you were at the World Cup in Russia in 2018, in Portugal’s group. How was the experience?

It was a dream come true, no doubt. That mistake was a shame, but that’s all, it’s football.

The own goal?

I came on in the 77th minute of the last group match against Iran. It was 0-0 and in the last minute I scored an own goal and we lost. We finished bottom of the group and were eliminated.

I imagine it was very hard. How did you react?

It was very difficult. It’s football after all, but people don’t understand it. I was criticised a lot at the beginning. Because in this game you have people who understand it, but you also have people who don’t understand anything at all. All they see is that I scored an own goal. But it could have been Messi, Ronaldo or Maradona who did it. But that didn’t overshadow the rest. I was playing in the German second division and suddenly I was in the World Cup! I even know friends who played in the Champions League but never the World Cup. I played. I scored an own goal, but it’s football.

And what do you remember about the match against Portugal?

I remember him. His aura. He’s Ronaldo, he’s my idol. He’s only two years older than me, but that guy is fantastic. I met him at the end of the match, it was incredible.

And what did I say to you? And he to you?

I felt very embarrassed. He is him. He has something, an aura that no one has had in the history of football. The work he did to be here is incredible. For me he is the best player of all time. Messi is also spectacular, pay attention. God gave him that talent. But Cristiano worked every day of his life for it, if necessary he would train five times a day. He is 39 years old! He should be standing still, but he is running towards it.

And from what you showed me, they even took a photo together, right?

I got it, it’s here! We even took several. And I’ll never delete them.

“It’s difficult to see Ronaldo like this, but it shows how hungry he is”

And what does it mean to you that I have now come to play in your city?

To be honest, I didn’t even know. [risos]I was on a trip to Morocco last week and I didn’t even realise that the round of 16 match that was played here was against Portugal. I only realised this the day before the match. I still tried to get a ticket, but it was too late.

And what did you feel when you saw Ronaldo’s emotional state? He cried several times, he missed a penalty…

It’s hard to see it like that, but it only shows one thing: how hungry he is. He is hungry! And the fact that he cried and apologized after missing the penalty shows how much he wants to help the team and, above all, help his country win the Euros.

But he was once a player. Isn’t this a bit emotionally out of control? Can he continue to be a starter like this?

But is there any doubt about it? We’re talking about Cristiano Ronaldo! And after all he did, people still talk about selfishness. Selfishness? I read the German papers after the match and everyone was criticising him, it’s pointless. Wait until the match against France and see if he doesn’t respond.

57 touches, a missed penalty and many tears (of sadness and joy): Ronaldo’s game against Slovenia under the microscope

This was one of the most emotional moments of Ronaldo’s career, but he also had another one in which he couldn’t hold back his tears and it was against his country, Morocco, in the 2022 World Cup, after their elimination. This time he was not called up, but how did he experience that moment of sadness for Cristiano and the joy of his team?
I love Morocco, I love my country. It’s a fantastic country and Moroccans are crazy about football. This year was historic for us, especially the game against Portugal. And it was funny, because a lot of Moroccans like Barcelona, ​​​​and that’s why they like Messi. And beating Ronaldo was even more remarkable. It was harder for me. On top of that, seeing him cry. I didn’t cry, but it was hard to see him like that, I felt it. He was my idol. And I really wanted to see him win a World Cup, he worked very hard to achieve it. If you support Ronaldo, you felt that moment, like yesterday. It didn’t happen in 2022, but I hope it happens this year, I support Portugal.

But so far, who seems to be doing better right now?

Spain. So far Spain. But Portugal has quality in all positions, I hope they win. Of course, Germany is also the favourite, because they play at home, but we’ll see.

You probably know some of the players who are currently at the Euros. Who were your best friends in football?
Hmm… I get on very well with Emre Can from Dortmund, we are friends and we still talk. He even invited me to the Euros, but with so much work I couldn’t go. And he also played with Ronaldo at Juventus.

And did he tell you any of his stories?

Yes, and they all have to do with work. I remember him saying that he was once found in the gym at seven in the morning. I am also very good friends with Achraf Hakimi, from PSG. He also crossed paths with Cristiano, when he was starting out at Real Madrid. When I played with him for the first time, in the Moroccan national team, I must have been 18 or 19 years old. And you could already see that he was different.