Algeria have appointed Christian Gourcuff as the new man at the helms of their national team.
Gourcuff, 59, will succeeds Vahid Halilhodzic, who stepped down from the North Africans team’s coaching job after guiding them to a first-ever appearance in the knockout stage of the Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
Halilhodzic’s achievement was hailed as remarkable by the country, including the Algerian president, who demanded he stay with ‘the Fennec Foxes’, but the Bosnian had agreed to take over Turkish club Trabzonspor after the 2014 World Cup.
Algeria had been in search of a new manager since then, culminating in Saturday’s announcement.
“The Federal Bureau (have) decided to appoint Mr Christian Gourcuff as national coach from 1 August 2014,” read a statement on the FAF’s website. “A goal for the coming African Cup of Nations in 2015 and 2017 and the 2018 World Cup will be implemented.
“Mr Gourcuff will also participate in the training and development of the National Technical Department.”
Gourcuff left Lorient after last season, ending an 11-year run at the Ligue 1 club- a total 25-year run over three spells.
A manager, who has amassed reputation for his development of young talents, such as: Laurient Koscielny, Morgan Amalfitano, Christophe Jailet, Kevin Gameiro and Andre-Pierre Gignac, amongst many.
Algeria are drawn in the same group as Mali, Ethiopia and the winner of the second round tie between Tanzania and Mozambique in the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualification round.
Next year’s Afcon tournament is slated for the neighbouring country of Morocco from January 17 to February 8.
