Roberto Martinez offers his services to Algeria, disrupting Poyet talks

Roberto Martinez has contacted the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) to offer his services as head coach, according to Foot Mercato, reviving a succession that appeared close to being settled with Gustavo Poyet.

The Spaniard, who has three consecutive World Cup appearances to his name — with Belgium in 2018 (third place) and 2022, then with Portugal this summer (eliminated in the quarter-finals by Spain) — would be willing to make salary concessions and to appoint an Algerian assistant to facilitate his integration.

The move comes as the FAF seeks a successor to Vladimir Petkovic, sidelined after Algeria’s elimination in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Switzerland (2-0). The federation has set a budget of 100,000 euros per month, a ceiling that has already closed the door to several candidates: Rafa Benitez, Igor Tudor and Paulo Bento — former head coach of Portugal and South Korea — did not follow up, nor did Félix Sanchez Bas, who had managed Qatar at the 2022 World Cup.

It was in this context that Gustavo Poyet became Algeria’s priority. The Uruguayan, French-speaking thanks to his years at Grenoble (1988-1990) and his spell as Bordeaux manager in 2018, also coached Greece from 2022 to 2024 before a stint in Saudi Arabia. An agreement was reportedly close for a contract running until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Martinez’s arrival reshuffles the deck. While his recent record is contested — early elimination with Portugal this summer — his experience at the highest international level remains a weighty argument that the FAF will have to weigh against the more accessible profile of Poyet, which is already nearly finalized.