Zinedine Zidane declines offer to coach Algeria national team
28th January 2024
French football icon Zinedine Zidane has reportedly turned down an offer to become the head coach of the Algeria national football team.
The opportunity arose following Algeria's disappointing performance in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Algeria, the defending champions from the 2019 AFCON, faced an early exit after losing to Mauritania in their final group game.
In the aftermath, coach Djamel Belmadi resigned, triggering a search for a new leader for the Desert Foxes.
Zidane, who has had a successful coaching career, notably with Real Madrid where he secured three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, was considered a potential candidate.
However, according to reports from L'Equipe, the 51-year-old declined the offer to coach Algeria.
Although flattered by the opportunity, Zidane opted not to take on the role of head coach for the Algerian national team.
His decision leaves the Algerian Football Federation continuing its search for a suitable candidate to guide the team in future competitions.