Felix Sanchez Bas is closing in on becoming the next coach of Algeria, with the Spanish manager’s appointment appearing almost settled after a meeting of the Algerian Football Federation’s National Technical College.
The discussions reportedly focused less on identifying a preferred candidate and more on completing the process required to appoint Sanchez Bas as the successor to Switzerland’s Vladimir Petkovic.
According to Algerian newspaper El Khabar, the meeting gave the clearest indication yet that Sanchez Bas had been the federation’s favoured option from the outset. National technical director Ali Moucer, National Technical College coordinator Rabah Saadane and National Technical Directorate member Karim Kaced all highlighted the strengths of Spanish coaching.
However, they stressed that Sanchez Bas would not be expected to impose a strict “tiki-taka” approach on the national team. Instead, the new manager would be required to develop a philosophy suited to Algeria’s resources and the characteristics of its players.
The alternatives on the shortlist appeared to have been considered largely as part of the formal process. They included Portugal’s Roberto Martinez, Belgium’s Tom Saintfiet, Netherlands coach Frank de Boer and former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez.
Benitez was said to have demanded that his entire 11-member coaching staff accompany him. That condition was not accepted by the Algerian Football Federation, weakening his prospects of taking the job.
Language was also raised as a possible concern during the meeting, given that Sanchez Bas is Spanish. Moucer, Saadane and Kaced reportedly dismissed the issue, saying former Algeria international Antar Yahia would join the senior national-team staff.
Yahia’s command of Spanish would allow him to act as an intermediary between Sanchez Bas and the players. The meeting also produced a proposal from Boualem Charef, technical director of Mouloudia Club d’Alger, who called for a second Algerian assistant to be added alongside Yahia.
Charef suggested former international defender Samir Zaoui for the role, arguing that Zaoui had the personality and experience to make a meaningful contribution. Saadane’s broad smile in response to the proposal attracted attention and was interpreted by some observers as a possible sign of preliminary approval rather than simple politeness.
Sanchez Bas is considered the strongest candidate partly because he has agreed to work with an Algerian assistant, a condition the federation was keen to establish. Some of the other coaches approached were reportedly less enthusiastic about accepting that arrangement.
Financial considerations have also helped the Spaniard’s case, with his demands understood to be lower than those of the other managers contacted.
Yet the potential appointment has raised questions about the sporting criteria used by the federation, particularly given that several other candidates possess greater European experience and more extensive records in the game.
Sanchez Bas’s greatest achievement came with Qatar, whom he guided to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup title. But his subsequent record has been less convincing. Qatar lost all three of their group matches at the 2022 World Cup, hosted by Qatar, and failed to collect a single point. Their early exit was regarded as one of the poorest performances by a World Cup host.
He later managed Ecuador, but the Ecuadorian Football Federation ended his contract after the team’s participation in the Copa America in July 2024. Ecuador were eliminated by holders Argentina. Although the results were not viewed as disastrous, criticism focused on Sanchez Bas’s style of play and his tactical decisions, contributing to his departure.
His most recent club experience, with Al Sadd, also ended earlier than planned. His contract was due to run until July 2026, but the partnership was terminated in mid-October 2025 after a decline in the team’s domestic results and failure in the AFC Champions League.
Concerns have extended beyond Sanchez Bas’s tactical record to his approach inside the dressing room. Reports from Doha, including comments from Algerian players and players of Algerian origin who previously worked under him, have described his personality as complicated and his management style as difficult.
That could make it challenging to establish a strong working relationship with Yahia, while also raising questions about how easily Sanchez Bas would connect with Algeria’s players if his appointment is formally confirmed.
