Felix Sanchez appointed Bahrain boss after missing out on Algeria job

Felix Sanchez has been appointed head coach of Bahrain, two months after being regarded as a leading contender to replace Vladimir Petkovic as Algeria manager.

The Bahrain Football Association confirmed the Spanish coach’s appointment on Monday. He will take charge during the November international window and has been tasked with leading Bahrain at the 2027 Asian Cup.

Sanchez replaces Dragan Talajic, who was dismissed after Bahrain suffered three defeats in three matches at the Gulf Cup.

His move to Bahrain is likely to attract particular interest in Algeria. Following Petkovic’s departure, Sanchez was one of the final three candidates considered by the Federation Algerienne de Football (FAF), alongside Rafael Benitez and Tom Saintfiet.

At one stage, Sanchez’s candidacy was considered among the most advanced in the discussions. Several reports suggested that negotiations had progressed significantly and that a provisional agreement may even have been reached.

The former Qatar manager’s profile nevertheless divided opinion. His supporters highlighted his record as a coach focused on player development, his preference for possession-based football and his experience of working with national teams.

Others questioned whether he would be able to cope with the pressure associated with managing Algeria. The possibility of appointing Sanchez cooled after several negative assessments of his group management, communication and relationship with players.

The FAF has never officially explained the precise reasons why the talks ultimately failed.

Sanchez now takes over a Bahrain side ranked 97th in the FIFA world rankings. The contrast with Algeria is considerable, with the North African team having recently competed at the World Cup and remaining one of Africa’s leading footballing nations.

For those who had doubts about Sanchez’s status, his appointment may reinforce their view that Algeria would have been a more demanding and prestigious opportunity.

However, judging the Spaniard solely by Bahrain’s ranking would overlook his previous work in the Gulf. Sanchez knows the region’s football well and remains the coach who guided Qatar to the Asian title in 2019.

His subsequent spells with Ecuador and Al-Sadd produced more mixed results, but Bahrain offers him a return to an environment in which his methods have already proved effective. The appointment can therefore be viewed as a return to familiar territory rather than simply a step down in his career.

Algeria, meanwhile, have taken a different route by appointing Brahim Hemdani. The possibility of Sanchez taking charge of the Fennecs is now over, while his time in Bahrain may eventually offer a clearer perspective on whether the FAF missed an opportunity or avoided an appointment it had come to doubt.