Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic is set to take the reins as Algeria’s new national coach, succeeding Djamel Belmadi.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) announced Petkovic’s appointment, revealing that he will arrive in Algiers on Sunday, followed by a press conference on Monday.
Petkovic, 60, was available after being dismissed by Girondins de Bordeaux in February 2022 following a challenging season that resulted in relegation to Ligue 2.
Previously, at the helm of the Switzerland national team, he notably eliminated France in the Euro 2021 round of 16.
Belmadi’s departure came on January 24, following Algeria’s unexpected elimination in the first round of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a defeat against Mauritania.
Despite leading Algeria to victory in the 2019 AFCON, Belmadi’s star waned due to early exits in 2021 edition and failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
With Petkovic’s arrival, Algeria aims to rejuvenate its football fortunes.
The Fennecs have started their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign positively with two victories.
After friendly matches in March against Bolivia and South Africa, Petkovic’s first official challenges will be against Guinea and Uganda in June.
