The Algerian Football Federation has begun moving quickly to appoint a new head coach after reaching a preliminary agreement with Vladimir Petkovic to end his contract, while efforts to bring in former Barcelona manager Xavi have been halted by financial difficulties.
Petkovic is expected to leave after the federation agreed in principle to pay compensation equivalent to three months of his salary. The arrangement paves the way for an official announcement confirming the Bosnia and Herzegovina coach’s departure.
The agreement has not yet been formally announced, but the initial settlement represents a significant step towards closing Petkovic’s spell in charge of the Algeria national team. The federation is now preparing to move on with its search for a replacement.
Its preferred direction remains linked to the Spanish school of coaching. However, the attempt to recruit Xavi has been abandoned after negotiations encountered a financial obstacle.
The federation had identified a high-profile name as its leading option while looking to resolve the coaching position. Xavi’s status as a major figure in modern football made him the prominent target in the search, but the financial demands involved proved difficult to overcome.
As a result, Algeria has closed the file on the Xavi approach and is expected to continue examining alternatives within the Spanish coaching tradition. The federation’s interest in that style of football remains unchanged, even though its initial major target is no longer under consideration.
The immediate priority is to complete Petkovic’s departure. The proposed compensation, worth three months of his salary, is the basis of the preliminary agreement between the coach and the federation. Once the terms are finalised, the federation can formally confirm the end of his contract and advance its plans for the next appointment.
The developments mark the opening of a new phase in Algeria’s search for a head coach. The federation has already acted on the existing contract, but the failed attempt to appoint Xavi means its next choice will have to be made against the same financial backdrop that disrupted those negotiations.
Reports in Algeria say the preliminary agreement with Petkovic has been reached in preparation for an official announcement of his exit. No further details about the identity of the next coach have been given, although the Spanish school remains the stated objective.
For now, the process has two clear elements: Petkovic’s departure is being prepared on the basis of a three-month salary compensation package, while Xavi is no longer part of the federation’s plans. Algeria’s search will continue, with the Spanish coaching route still at the centre of its thinking.
