Operating in the shadows of the French national football team’s global superstars is a discreet but fundamental figure: Mohamed Sanhadji. Affectionately nicknamed “Momo” by players, coaches, executives, and journalists alike, this 57-year-old police commander has become an essential and highly respected pillar of the French locker room.
Who is Mohamed Sanhadji and How Did He Help? The son of a harki who escaped social hardship through the institutions of the Republic, Sanhadji joined the national team in 2004 under former manager Raymond Domenech as a liaison and security officer. Over the past two decades, he has survived every managerial change and crisis, rendering himself absolutely indispensable to the squad.
Sanhadji’s role extends far beyond basic security; he is widely regarded as a big brother, a confidant, and an all-around problem solver. Whether it involves helping Paul Pogba’s mother accommodate visiting childhood friends, fixing an expired passport for a federation executive, or assisting a journalist who lost their papers, “Momo” is the man everyone calls in an emergency.
His wisdom and protective nature have earned him the profound respect of French football legends like Zinédine Zidane and Fabien Barthez. Olivier Giroud recalled how Sanhadji guided the players on the importance of their public image, notably speaking to them about the emotional necessity of playing a match against England just three days after the tragic November 13, 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. Former French Football Federation (FFF) president Noël Le Graët also expressed immense esteem for him, highlighting his exceptional kindness.
The Story of Kylian Mbappé’s Gift Sanhadji’s flawless trajectory recently hit a major roadblock due to a financial controversy. Sanhadji is known to be very intimate with the Mbappé family. A few months after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Real Madrid forward made a financial gift to Sanhadji. As established in our previous conversations, this gift amounted to 60,000 euros, intended simply to thank the security officer for his hard work and dedication during the tournament.
However, the French anti-money laundering agency, Tracfin, flagged these atypical financial operations, which also included checks benefiting other CRS (riot police) officers assigned to protect the French team. This led the Paris prosecutor to open a judicial investigation entrusted to the National Division of Investigations (DNE) for alleged concealed employment and money laundering related to tax fraud. Mbappé’s entourage has firmly defended the action, assuring that “everything was done in compliance with the rules” and without any hidden agenda.
The Fallout and the FFF’s Rescue Despite the pure intentions claimed by the Mbappé camp, Sanhadji’s police hierarchy judged the acceptance of this money to be irregular and a breach of professional ethics. As a result, the beloved security officer was severely sanctioned and forced into early retirement. (Note: As mentioned in our previous exchange, this ordeal also involved a harsh raid on his home, prompting Sanhadji to file a legal complaint).
Yet, Sanhadji’s bond with the French national team proved stronger than the administrative scandal. The idea of traveling without him was inconceivable to the players, who even sent a delegation to speak with FFF president Philippe Diallo to demand his return during the Nations League Final Four. Yielding to the pressure from the squad and recognizing his vital role, the FFF officially hired Sanhadji. As noted in our past discussions, he was offered a civilian contract—a six-month fixed-term agreement—allowing him to remain in the orbit of Les Bleus and continue his life’s work as the team’s ultimate guardian angel.
