Last Updated on September 21, 2026 by Mike
Youssef Maziz comes from a working-class football family in northeastern France that played a major role in shaping his career. Born on June 24, 1998, in Thionville, France, the French-Moroccan attacking midfielder grew up in the Moselle region, first in Yutz and later in Florange. His journey eventually took him through FC Metz, several loan spells in France and Belgium, OH Leuven and, in 2026, Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids.
Maziz has spoken warmly about his parents and older brothers, explaining that football was already an important part of family life when he was a child. His father worked as a forklift operator at a factory, while his mother worked as a cleaner. Although their names have remained private, Maziz has credited both parents with supporting his early ambitions. He also has older brothers who played football, including publicly documented footballers Younes Maziz and Yassine Maziz.
Does Youssef Maziz Have a Girlfriend?
As of now, Youssef Maziz has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend. Reliable interviews, official club profiles and established sports publications do not identify a romantic partner.
Maziz has given several detailed interviews about his childhood, parents, brothers and football development, but he has generally kept his romantic life away from public discussion.
There is also no reliable reporting confirming that Maziz is engaged or married. Social-media appearances or photographs should therefore not be used on their own to identify someone as his partner.
Does Youssef Maziz Have Children?
There are no publicly confirmed children for Youssef Maziz as of now.
Neither Maziz nor the clubs he has represented have publicly announced that he is a father. His interviews about family have focused primarily on his parents, brothers and the relatives he regularly visits in the Moselle region.
Who Are Youssef Maziz’s Parents?
The names of Youssef Maziz’s parents have not been publicly disclosed in reliable sources. Maziz has nevertheless provided unusually clear information about their occupations, the environment in which they raised him and their influence on his football career.
His parents initially lived in Yutz, a town close to Thionville, before the family moved to Florange. Maziz has described the area as strongly working-class and has remained attached to the region even after professional football took him elsewhere.
He told So Foot that he continues returning there regularly to see his family.
Youssef Maziz’s Father
Youssef Maziz’s father worked as a forklift operator in a factory. His name has remained private, but his influence on Youssef’s sporting career is well documented.
In an official FC Metz interview, Maziz said that his love of football was transmitted to him by his family, especially his father and his older brothers.
Football therefore entered Youssef’s life long before he became part of an academy. He regularly watched his brothers play and soon wanted to imitate them.
His father was among the people who helped turn that childhood enthusiasm into organized football. Once Youssef showed a serious interest in the game, his parents listened to him and enrolled him with a club.
Maziz began playing at FC Thionville when he was around six years old. It was the first step in a journey that eventually led to the FC Metz academy and professional football.
His Father and Brothers Inspired His Love of Football
One of the clearest things Maziz has said about his childhood is that he did not discover football alone.
He grew up watching his older brothers play, while his father encouraged the family’s connection with the game. In his FC Metz interview, Maziz explained that seeing his brothers with a football made him want to do the same.
That family environment meant he regularly had a ball at his feet from an early age.
Interestingly, Maziz did not begin as the creative attacking midfielder fans later came to know. He initially played much deeper, including as a defender, before gradually moving through defensive midfield, central midfield and eventually the No. 10 role.
Youssef Maziz’s Mother
Youssef Maziz’s mother worked as a cleaner while he was growing up.
Like his father, her name has not been publicly established through authoritative football reporting. Maziz nevertheless includes both parents when discussing the people who supported his desire to pursue football.
The family’s circumstances were modest, and practical considerations sometimes affected Youssef’s youth career. After initially joining the FC Metz system, he spent a period playing for CSO Amnéville before later returning to Metz.
Despite the financial and logistical challenges involved in supporting an academy player, his parents continued helping him pursue football.
Youssef Maziz Grew Up in a Working-Class Family
Maziz has described his childhood environment very openly.
His family lived first in Yutz and then Florange, both located within the industrial Moselle area of northeastern France. The region has historically been associated with heavy industry and working-class communities.
His father’s factory job and his mother’s cleaning work reflected that environment.
Maziz has never presented his upbringing negatively. Instead, he has spoken with affection about the region and said he continues going back to see his relatives whenever his football schedule allows.
That upbringing also appears to have influenced his relatively close social circle. Maziz said that moving between towns, schools and football environments meant he did not build an enormous group of childhood friends. Instead, he maintained a small number of particularly close friendships.
Youssef Maziz’s Siblings
Youssef Maziz has older brothers. He personally confirmed having multiple older brothers during an official FC Metz interview and credited them with inspiring his passion for football.
Public football records identify Younes Maziz as Youssef’s brother. They also connect Younes with another football-playing brother, Yassine Maziz, making Younes and Yassine the publicly documented members of Youssef’s sibling group.
Both brothers are older than Youssef and have played football competitively.
Yassine Maziz
Yassine Maziz is the oldest of the publicly documented Maziz footballing brothers. He was born on March 31, 1992.
Yassine has played primarily as a forward and attacking midfielder. His career has included football in Luxembourg, where he has represented clubs including Avenir Beggen and FC The Belval Belvaux.
In the 2026-27 season, Yassine continued playing in Luxembourg’s Promotion d’Honneur with Belvaux and made a productive start to the campaign.
His career illustrates the football culture Youssef grew up around. By the time Youssef was beginning to understand the game, his older brothers were already playing and providing examples for him to copy.
Younes Maziz
Younes Maziz is another older brother of Youssef. Born on December 12, 1994, he also pursued competitive football.
Younes has played predominantly as an attacking midfielder or forward and spent part of his career in Luxembourg football.
Transfermarkt directly identifies Younes as Youssef Maziz’s brother and also identifies Yassine as Younes’s brother.
For Youssef, however, his brothers’ importance goes beyond their playing records. His own description of childhood makes clear that watching them play was one of the reasons he wanted to become a footballer himself.
How Youssef Maziz’s Brothers Influenced His Career
In many professional football families, younger siblings follow an established example, and that appears to have been the case with Maziz.
Youssef recalled regularly going to watch his older brothers play football. Seeing them on the field encouraged him to imitate them, and before long he wanted to join a club himself.
That meant his earliest sporting role models were not famous professionals on television but members of his own household.
His parents responded by registering him with a club, beginning a development process that ultimately took Youssef further in the professional game than any of the publicly documented Maziz brothers.
Youssef Maziz’s French and Moroccan Background
Maziz was born and raised in France and has both French and Moroccan nationality.
His childhood and football education were almost entirely French. He was born in Thionville, grew up around Yutz and Florange and entered organized football through clubs in the Moselle region.
His Moroccan background also forms part of his identity, giving him links to both countries.
Maziz represented France at youth international level, including appearances for the French U-16 team. He did not establish himself with the senior French national side, leaving his club career as the primary focus of his football journey.
Youssef Maziz’s Childhood Football Career
Maziz started playing club football with FC Thionville at around six years old.
His performances quickly attracted attention, and he entered FC Metz’s youth system while still very young.
He temporarily left Metz for CSO Amnéville during his early teenage years before returning to the Grenats in 2013.
At that stage, his position was also changing. Maziz had initially enjoyed playing further back because he liked having the game in front of him.
Over time, coaches recognized that his technical ability could be more useful closer to goal. He moved through several midfield roles before establishing himself as an attacking midfielder.
His Parents Supported His Professional Dream
The route from youth football to a professional career is uncertain, particularly for families without significant financial resources.
Maziz’s parents nevertheless continued supporting him as he moved through different clubs and eventually returned to Metz.
Their willingness to listen to his ambitions was important from the beginning. In his own account, once Youssef expressed his desire to play like his older brothers, his parents did not dismiss the idea.
They enrolled him with a football club and allowed him to continue pursuing the sport as the level became increasingly serious.
Youssef Maziz’s Professional Breakthrough at FC Metz
Maziz eventually progressed through Metz’s reserve structure and reached the first team.
He made his professional Ligue 1 debut in February 2017 against Lyon.
Regular first-team football did not arrive immediately. Metz subsequently sent him on several loan spells designed to give him senior experience.
Maziz played for US Avranches, Le Mans and RFC Seraing. Each experience placed him in a different competitive environment and helped him develop into a more complete attacking midfielder.
His period at Seraing in Belgium proved particularly productive and helped prepare him for an important role when he returned to Metz.
Helping Metz Return to Ligue 1
The 2022-23 season became one of the defining periods of Maziz’s career.
He returned to FC Metz and became an important attacking player as the club fought for promotion from Ligue 2.
Maziz contributed goals and assists while combining effectively with players such as Georges Mikautadze and Ablie Jallow.
Metz ultimately earned promotion back to Ligue 1, allowing Maziz to contribute significantly to the club he had first joined as a child.
For a player born only around 30 kilometers from Metz and raised in the surrounding region, the achievement held particular personal meaning.
Youssef Maziz’s Move to OH Leuven
In August 2023, Maziz left Metz and signed with Belgian side OH Leuven.
The move gave him the opportunity to become an established attacking midfielder in Belgium’s top division rather than remaining on the margins of a Ligue 1 squad.
Maziz spent three seasons with Leuven and became a regular contributor. Across all competitions, he made more than 100 appearances for the Belgian club while producing goals and assists.
His performances kept him in top-flight football and eventually attracted an opportunity outside Europe.
Youssef Maziz Joins Colorado Rapids
On July 31, 2026, the Colorado Rapids announced the signing of Youssef Maziz.
The midfielder joined Colorado after the end of his OH Leuven spell and signed a contract running through the 2027-28 MLS season, with a club option for 2028-29.
The Rapids highlighted his creativity, technical ability and experience in European football as important qualities for their midfield.
Maziz quickly began contributing. He recorded assists during his early appearances and became another experienced European addition to Colorado’s revamped squad.
The transfer also marked the first time in his senior career that Maziz had played professionally outside Europe.
How Important Is Family to Youssef Maziz?
Family occupies an important place in Maziz’s story because it is directly connected with the reason he started playing football.
His father and older brothers introduced him to the game. His parents then supported the decision to join organized football despite the demands that came with academy development.
Maziz has also maintained his attachment to the towns where the family lived. Even after playing professionally in different parts of France and Belgium, he said he frequently returned to the Moselle region to visit relatives.
His brothers’ involvement in football further makes the sport a shared family tradition rather than simply Youssef’s individual profession.
Frequently Asked Questions About Youssef Maziz’s Family
Who are Youssef Maziz’s parents?
The names of Youssef Maziz’s parents have not been reliably disclosed publicly. His father worked as a forklift operator in a factory, while his mother worked as a cleaner.
Who is Youssef Maziz’s father?
Maziz’s father has remained unnamed publicly. Youssef has credited him, together with his older brothers, with transmitting his love of football.
Who is Youssef Maziz’s mother?
His mother’s name has also remained private. Maziz has said that she worked as a cleaner while the family lived in the Moselle region.
Does Youssef Maziz have siblings?
Yes. Maziz has publicly confirmed having older brothers and has said that watching them play football inspired him to become a player.
Who are Youssef Maziz’s brothers?
Public football records identify Younes Maziz as Youssef’s brother and connect Younes with Yassine Maziz as another brother. Both Younes and Yassine have played competitive football.
Who is Younes Maziz?
Younes Maziz is Youssef’s older brother, born in December 1994. He has played as an attacking midfielder and forward, including in Luxembourg football.
Who is Yassine Maziz?
Yassine Maziz is another older member of the Maziz footballing family. Born in March 1992, he has played as a forward and attacking midfielder in Luxembourg.
Does Youssef Maziz have a girlfriend?
As of now, Youssef Maziz has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend, and no reliable source identifies a romantic partner.
Is Youssef Maziz married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Youssef Maziz is married.
Does Youssef Maziz have children?
As of now, Youssef Maziz has no publicly confirmed children.
Where was Youssef Maziz born?
Maziz was born in Thionville, France, on June 24, 1998. His family later lived in Yutz and Florange.
Is Youssef Maziz Moroccan?
Maziz is French-born and holds French and Moroccan nationality. He represented France at youth international level.
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
