Algeria boss Brahim Hemdani set to earn six times less than Vladimir Petkovic

Algeria manager Brahim Hemdani is reportedly earning between five and six times less than his predecessor Vladimir Petkovic, as the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) opts for a cheaper homegrown appointment.

Hemdani, 48, is understood to be paid between €25,000 and €30,000 a month after taking charge of the Fennecs. By comparison, Petkovic earned €160,000 per month during the period between the renewal of his contract in June and his departure on 3 August.

The figures were reported by La Gazette du Fennec, which also says Hemdani’s assistant, Anthar Yahia, is expected to receive between €15,000 and €20,000 a month.

Hemdani was officially placed in charge of Algeria on 5 September after his work with the national Under-23 team at the Mediterranean Games. His appointment represented the FAF’s decision to promote a domestic solution rather than bring in another foreign coach.

Despite the significant difference in salary, Hemdani and Yahia have inherited the same minimum sporting target that had been set for Petkovic following the former manager’s contract extension.

The pair are under contract until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 18 July 2027. Their stated objective is to guide Algeria to at least the semi-finals of the tournament.

If they fail to reach that target, Hemdani and Yahia are expected to leave their positions without compensation, according to La Gazette du Fennec. Should they achieve the required result, their contracts would be extended by a further year, taking them through to the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations.

A longer-term extension could also be available if Algeria win the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for the 2030 World Cup. In that scenario, the coaching partnership could remain in place until 2030, with an increase to their salaries.

Hemdani’s appointment also takes the FAF’s monthly spending on its head coach below the symbolic €50,000 mark. The federation is therefore expected to make savings amounting to several tens of thousands of euros compared with the cost of employing a foreign manager.

Petkovic, the Swiss-Bosnian coach, had been in charge of Algeria until his departure on 3 August. His monthly salary of €160,000 was agreed after his contract was renewed in June.

For Hemdani, the challenge will now be to deliver the same sporting results demanded of his predecessor while working on a considerably lower salary. The first major measure of the new set-up will come at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where reaching the last four is the minimum requirement attached to the coaching team’s contracts.