Experienced world cup campaigner, Vladimir Petković takes over Desert foxes

Several Algerian media reports indicates that the Swiss coach Vladimir Petković has been appointed the new Algerian national team head coach.

Algerian sources reported that negotiations between the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) and Vladimir Petković for coaching the national team is now official.

The Swiss coach replaces coach Djamel Belmadi as Algeria’s head coach, following their elimination from the group stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Local Algerian radio reported days ago that Walid Sadi, the FAF president, traveled to Switzerland to negotiate with the coach, who holds both Bosnian and Swiss nationalities.

The FAF required two conditions in the coach’s contract: first, qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and second, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Vladimir Petković has been away from coaching for two years since February 2022, when his tenure with the French club Bordeaux ended. Petkovic also coached the Swiss national team between 2014 and 2021.