End of a suspense which was no longer one since the rumors have become more and more insistent in recent days.
The Algerian football federation (FAF) formalized Thursday February 29 the appointment of Swiss Vladimir Petkovic as head of the Fennecs.
Exit Djamel Belmadi who will have presided over the destiny of his team for six years.
If the Algerian Franco will have given Algeria its second star thanks to the coronation at CAN 2019, he remains on two pitiful eliminations in the African Cup in the first round in a row.
He was logically one of the nine coaches who were victims of his team's poor performances, just like Rigobert Song.
Also read “It’s a dejection” for Algerian players after the new CAN fiasco
The FAF is therefore counting on Vladimir Petković to restore luster to the national team.
Born in Sarajevo into a Bosnian Croat family and naturalized Swiss in 2003, he spent most of his playing and coaching career in his host country, with stints abroad on the bench of Samsunspor in Turkey and at Lazio Rome, a resident of Serie A with whom he won an Italian Cup against AS Roma, the great rival, in May 2014.
Certainly, the "Doctor" remains a total failure in Bordeaux in Ligue 1 with less than a point taken per match and a significant participation in the descent of the Girondins in Ligue 2. But he has shown his ability to make the selections shine .
He shattered Switzerland's glass ceiling
He held the reins of the "Nati", the Swiss national selection from 2014 to 2021. In addition to being a model of longevity in the country of watchmakers, and of regularity since he has always qualified his selection for major competitions and took her out of the group stages, Vladimir Petkovic brought ambition, rigor and confidence.
Under his leadership, the Swiss qualified for all major tournaments.
Above all, the former Lazio coach managed to break through Switzerland's glass ceiling by helping them win the first knockout match in their history.
All in style: Switzerland had overthrown the reigning world champions, France, who nevertheless led 3 to 1 10 minutes from the end of the match.
Blues supporters have fond memories of it.
The Fennecs new coach is due to arrive in Algiers on Sunday and give his first press conference on Monday March 4.
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