Hugo Broos recalls Algeria club row after president threatened him over team selection

Former Algeria manager Hugo Broos has revealed how a club president threatened him after attempting to dictate his starting line-up during the Belgian coach’s time in the country.

Broos, now 74, was working in Algeria with JS Kabylie and NA Hussein Dey when the confrontation took place. The experienced manager said the president not only interfered with his team selection but warned him there would be consequences if he refused to follow instructions.

Broos discussed the incident in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, recalling how his time in Algeria became increasingly difficult despite initially being persuaded to remain at the club.

After spending two years without a managerial position, Broos eventually moved to Algeria. His spell there was marked by several incidents, including a situation involving a player who had been struck by stones. Despite those difficulties, the club president convinced him to continue.

The relationship deteriorated sharply before a match when the president demanded to know which 11 players Broos intended to select.

“On the eve of the match, he asked me for my team,” Broos said.

The president then presented his own version of the line-up and made clear that Broos was expected to use it.

“Then he gave me his. ‘This is how you are going to play.’”

The president signed the document and reinforced the message with a warning.

“Otherwise, you will suffer the consequences.”

Broos said that was the point at which he decided he could no longer continue working under those conditions.

“I decided to resign.”

The following day, the two men met again in the garden of the hotel. According to Broos, the president repeated the threat and reminded him of the previous conversation.

“You know what I told you,” he said.

Broos responded by taking the signed team sheet from his pocket. He tore it up in front of the president before walking away.

However, Broos soon realised he had made a mistake. His assistants warned him that by destroying the document, he had also disposed of the evidence of the president’s instructions.

He returned to the hotel garden, gathered up the torn pieces of paper and carefully stuck the document back together.

Broos then deliberately did the opposite of what the president had ordered. He selected his own side, sent that team on to the pitch and won the match.

That victory marked the end of his time at the club.

“After the match, which we won with my team, I handed in my resignation and showed him that piece of paper, stuck back together.”

Broos, a prominent figure in African football, said the extraordinary episode has continued to be discussed in Algeria years after it happened. His account offers a striking insight into the tension that can arise when club officials attempt to take control of a manager’s sporting decisions.