Algeria Boss Steps Down

Algeria boss Vahid Halilhodzic has decided to step down from his role on a high, as he has announced his exit with immediate effect. Halilhodzic helped Algeria reach the last 16 of the World Cup where they were beaten by Germany, who went on to win the competition. This has been a major achievement by the African nation, who were not one of the top teams from this region going into the competition. However, they came extremely close to beating Germany, as the European struggle to deal with the high tempo approach of Halilhodzic’s team.

After coming to the job in 2011, Halilhodzic signed a three-year contract that was scheduled to expire after the World Cup 2014. He has decided against renewing his contract since he feels that this is the right time to leave. Halilhodzic says that he enjoyed the impressive spell with the Algerian team. The 61-year-old is expected to return to club football with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor reportedly interested in his services. This would also bring him closer to home. The Bosnian has been residing in Algeria for the last three years and he has accepted that family played a crucial role in this decision to leave the post.

He went on to thank Algerian Federation president Mohamed Raouraoua. “I leave proud of my record after serving out my contract with the FAF [Algerian Football Federation]. Having lived for three years in Algeria, my family obligations and the attraction of new sporting challenges weighed heavily on my decision. I want to thank the president of the FAF, Mohamed Raouraoua, with whom I have worked for three years to realise our objectives and who put at my disposal a squad with all the necessary means to achieve this difficult mission,” Halilhodzic said.

Algeria could be inclined to appointing a local coach as his replacement.