Philippe Troussier Steps Away from Coaching After Frustrating Exit from CS Sfaxien
Philippe Troussier is officially without a club following his departure from Club Sportif Sfaxien, which came after the team’s elimination in the CAF Champions League semi-finals by AS Vita Club. The former Japan and Morocco national team coach is choosing to take a step back from football, despite receiving fresh offers.
“I received requests from a club in the Persian Gulf, but I didn’t follow up. I’m not looking for work at the moment,” Troussier told Jeune Afrique.
His short stint in Tunisia left him disappointed, not just with the results but also with the local environment and the club’s reception of his methods.
“I really enjoyed this return to Africa. But I had to leave the club. And the tension in Sfax will eventually ease,” he admitted.
Troussier was particularly affected by the lack of support from both supporters and the local press, feeling his efforts were underappreciated:
“I have not always felt, both from the press and from some of the supporters, a real commitment to the project that I put in place. People may have believed that with my experience and reputation, I was a magician… But sport is a bit more complicated than that!”
He added that continuing in such conditions would have been unfeasible.
Troussier has since been replaced at CS Sfaxien by Ghazi Gherairi, the current assistant coach of the Tunisian national team.
For now, the “White Witch Doctor” is stepping away from the spotlight, but his name remains closely watched for future managerial opportunities in Africa or the Gulf.
