Ziad Jaziri is being considered for a return to Etoile Sportive du Sahel as sporting director as the Tunisian club looks to address a difficult start to the new season.
Sources told winwin that the club’s management is moving towards bringing the former Tunisia international back into its sporting structure, with his experience and knowledge of the club seen as potentially useful during the current period.
Jaziri’s name has re-emerged among the options being discussed by Etoile du Sahel, particularly as the club seeks someone familiar with its environment and capable of working through the challenges currently facing the team.
Etoile have taken four points from their opening four matches in the Professional League One, with one win, one draw and two defeats. They currently sit 10th in the standings.
Difficult beginning under Braconi
The club’s start to the campaign has increased the pressure for changes within its sporting structure, following an inconsistent opening under French coach Christian Braconi.
Etoile appointed Braconi in July on a two-year contract, replacing Mohamed Ali Nafkha. Before moving to Sousse, the Frenchman had guided Esperance at the end of the previous season, winning the Tunisian Cup and helping the club finish second in the league.
His first matches with Etoile, however, have produced mixed results.
The team lost 3-2 to Esperance in the opening round, before recording a 2-1 victory against Etoile du Sahel. That was followed by a 1-1 draw with Jeunesse Sportive d’Omrane and a 1-0 defeat by Avenir Sportif de La Marsa.
Some of Braconi’s technical decisions have also attracted criticism, while concerns have been raised about areas of the squad that could require improvement, particularly physically, during the current league suspension.
Against that backdrop, the possible return of Jaziri is being discussed as a way of adding experience to the club’s sporting administration.
Jaziri’s previous success at Etoile
Jaziri has already held an influential role within Etoile’s football structure.
In April 2013, he agreed to become the club’s football director following a meeting with then-president Ridha Charfeddine. He later became an important figure in the sporting department during a period in which Etoile competed strongly for domestic and continental honours.
His most notable achievement came during the 2015-16 season, when Etoile won the Tunisian championship with Jaziri serving as sporting director.
The club’s success during that period also included the African Confederation Cup. Jaziri and coach Fawzi Benzarti were regarded by Tunisian sporting observers as important parts of the strategy used to build a side capable of competing on both domestic and continental fronts.
After winning the league title, Jaziri spoke about the work behind the achievement, highlighting how the team had learned from the previous season’s mistakes and remained focused until the end.
Possible return after 2023 spell
Jaziri has also been linked with a return to Etoile in the recent past.
He was sporting director again in January 2023 and was involved in the club’s transfer activity during that window. His spell in the role ended in November of the same year.
According to winwin’s sources, the latest discussions are part of a wider examination of Etoile’s sporting structure. The club is considering whether Jaziri’s previous experience and knowledge of its internal environment could help during the current period.
No final agreement has yet been confirmed, with consultations continuing over the structure of any potential return and whether it will result in Jaziri officially being appointed sporting director.
If the move goes ahead, Jaziri would return to a club seeking greater stability and an improvement in results after a difficult opening to the season. Etoile’s supporters will be hoping the club can regain its position among the leading forces in Tunisian and African football.
