Paulo Bento emerges as Algeria’s leading managerial candidate

Paulo Bento has reportedly moved to the front of Algeria’s search for a new head coach, with the Portuguese now said to be the most likely choice as the Football Federation of Algeria (FAF) approaches its appointment deadline.

The 57-year-old has been without a club since March 2025 and is considered an attractive option partly because of his financial demands. His proposed salary would reportedly be no more than €100,000 per month.

Bento also brings substantial international experience. He guided Portugal to the semi-finals of Euro 2012 before taking charge of South Korea, whom he led to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup.

According to Lamine Benchbir, the FAF is still weighing Bento against an Italian coach and a Spanish candidate. The identity of the Italian is understood to be Walter Mazzarri, who has emerged as one of the leading names in the process after initially entering the discussions relatively late.

Mazzarri, the former Napoli and Inter Milan manager, is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the federation. His candidacy gained momentum after several other options became less viable.

One of those was Stefano Pioli, who is understood to have been ruled out because his financial expectations were considered too high.

The third finalist remains unclear. Felix Sanchez is still regarded as a possible contender after previously being viewed as the leading candidate. The former Qatar manager had made progress in talks with the FAF, but the possibility of him holding parallel discussions with South Korea, combined with reservations about his management style, caused the negotiations to lose momentum.

Rafael Benitez, meanwhile, is no longer thought to be in contention.

The federation has also recently received the CV of another Spanish coach who is currently under contract with a club. The FAF is said to have asked that coach to find a way to leave his present position in order to take charge of Algeria.

Igor Tudor has entered the conversation in recent days as the search continues to evolve. The Croatian, known for his strong personality, has managed Marseille, Lazio, Juventus and Tottenham. However, he is currently being presented as one option among several rather than the favourite for the job.

Bento and Mazzarri therefore appear to be two of the three leading candidates, with the identity of the Spanish coach still unresolved. The situation remains fluid, however, with the order of preference changing repeatedly as negotiations develop.

The recruitment process has become increasingly unpredictable since Vladimir Petkovic’s departure. Names have been added and removed almost daily, and the FAF is now only a few days away from the deadline it set for appointing Algeria’s next manager.

For now, Bento appears to have the strongest position, while Mazzarri is reported to be closing in on an agreement and an unnamed Spanish coach remains in the final group. But given the rapid changes surrounding the search, no appointment can yet be considered certain.