Algérie’s coach gamble: Félix Sánchez’s double‑talk shatters trust
Within hours, Félix Sánchez shifted from the leading favourite to a seriously weakened candidate to replace Vladimir Petkovic as Algeria’s national team coach, after the local channel El Hayat announced on Monday that a deal on the main terms of his appointment had been reached.
Trust shaken by dual negotiations
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has since put the dossier back on the table, citing a central doubt that goes beyond financial considerations: can the federation still place full confidence in the Spanish technician?
According to the Arabic edition of Africafoot, Sánchez entered negotiations with South Korea on the very day an agreement was reportedly found with Algeria, a move that soured the talks and raised questions about his commitment.
South Korea, meanwhile, is also searching for a new head coach after the resignation of Hong Myung‑bo following the World Cup, adding pressure to Sánchez’s parallel discussions.
Walid Sadi, the FAF president, was reportedly displeased by the dual approach and had been urged by close advisers not to rush the appointment; journalist Mohamed Nedjari relayed those cautions, noting that Sánchez’s candidacy never enjoyed unanimous backing.
Friday’s assessment highlighted Sánchez’s profile – a 50‑year‑old with a training philosophy shaped at FC Barcelona, international experience, and alignment with the Spanish school favoured by the federation – yet his tenure as Qatar’s selector during World Cup 2022 had already placed him under intense scrutiny.
Les reports from Gazette du Fennec quoted Algerian players who worked with him in Qatar, describing him as competent but rigid and less persuasive in human management; his lack of African football experience is seen as a risk ahead of CAN 2027, despite his Asian Cup 2019 triumph with Qatar.
The “no” from Algeria is not an official rejection but signals the loss of the advantage Sánchez once held, reopening the selection process where names such as Rafael Benítez and Tom Saintfiet may re‑emerge, and prompting Sadi to avoid a hasty decision after trust cracked before any signature.