Petkovic Close to Departure, €5M Severance Could Keep Him in Post

Vladimir Petkovic may not leave the Algeria national team as quickly as expected. Just days after the Fennecs’ elimination in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup against Switzerland (2-0), the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) appears to have reconsidered its plans, according to Algerian Radio.

The defeat had seriously weakened the position of the Swiss manager. Several Algerian media outlets announced an imminent departure, with former international Anthar Yahia presented as the leading candidate to succeed him. But a major obstacle complicates the break: weeks before the World Cup, the FAF, chaired by Walid Sadi, had extended Petkovic’s contract until 2028 while granting him a salary increase.

The crux of the dispute concerns severance payments. The Federation believes a contractual clause would limit the amount to two months’ salary. Petkovic contests this interpretation and intends to assert all his rights. Should the matter go before the competent authorities, the bill could reach 5 million euros.

Faced with this financial risk, the FAF appears to have chosen to wait and would now prefer to keep the head coach to avoid costly litigation. This confidence would remain conditional, however: Walid Sadi would want to impose the appointment of an Algerian assistant within the technical staff.

Having previously managed Young Boys, FC Sion, Lugano, Lazio Rome, Girondins de Bordeaux and the Swiss national team, Petkovic took over the Fennecs in 2022. A final decision on his future is expected in the coming days.