Algeria: MC Oran coach Hubert Velud steps down just days after appointment

MC Oran have been left reeling after coach Hubert Velud announced his departure less than a week into the job, citing personal reasons for his sudden exit.

The Algerian club, known as El Bahia, confirmed the Frenchman’s resignation on Monday, bringing an abrupt end to what was expected to be the beginning of a new era following Abdelkader Amrani’s departure.

In a brief statement, MC Oran said the decision was linked to personal reasons, a stance Velud himself reinforced in a filmed message.

I am truly sorry to have to leave now. It is personal reasons that are pushing me to leave. I truly regret that. In life, we cannot control everything. In any case, it is with great emotion that I leave the MCO, the former Burkina Faso coach said.

Velud, who boasts extensive experience in African football, including spells with clubs and national teams across the continent, had only just arrived in Oran to take charge ahead of the new season.

His sudden departure has left officials scrambling, with the start of the campaign looming and preparations now severely disrupted.

For MC Oran, the development represents a return to uncertainty at a critical juncture.

The club had turned to Velud with hopes of stability after parting ways with Amrani, believing his managerial pedigree and continental background could provide the fresh momentum needed.

Instead, they are once again without a head coach, a situation few at the club could have foreseen just days ago.

The timing could hardly be more difficult.

With the season fast approaching, the squad faces a lack of clarity in both tactical direction and leadership.

The board must now move swiftly to secure a replacement capable of steadying the team and ensuring that the disruption does not spill onto the pitch once competitive matches begin.

Velud’s departure also highlights the broader challenges clubs face when coaching changes occur so close to the start of a campaign.

For the players, the uncertainty can prove unsettling, while for management, the search for a credible successor becomes a race against time.

MC Oran supporters, who had welcomed Velud with optimism, will now be left wondering who will take the reins next and whether the team can recover from this latest setback.

What remains certain is that Velud’s departure, despite being attributed to personal matters, has left the club facing an unwanted reset at the most crucial moment of its season preparations.