Petkovic Kept in Algeria Due to Lack of €5 Million to Sack Him

Vladimir Petkovic retains his position as Algeria’s head coach, not by choice of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), but due to lack of financial means to sack him. According to Algerian Radio, the 62-year-old Bosnian manager is demanding nearly €5 million to accept a contract termination — a sum deemed impossible by the FAF.

The World Cup record was nonetheless severe. After a laborious group stage — a 3-0 defeat to Argentina, a narrow 2-1 victory over Jordan, a 3-3 draw with Austria — the Greens qualified as one of the best third-placed teams before losing 2-0 to Switzerland in the round of 16. Petkovic had tried to downplay the result by recalling that Algeria had not played in a World Cup for twelve years, a self-satisfaction that convinced neither the public nor part of the international squad.

The FAF had attempted to remove the head coach following the tournament, offering him two months’ salary as severance — approximately €300,000. The offer was rejected. Petkovic, whose contract was extended until 2028 before the World Cup, is now in a strong position.

The rift extends beyond the sporting record: several international players would now refuse to answer call-ups as long as the Swiss coach remains in charge. In an attempt to limit the damage, the federation is considering imposing an Algerian assistant coach on him, hoping to strengthen the link between the staff and local football. A measure that, given the accumulated tensions, risks being merely a band-aid on an open wound.