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Algeria Ex-international named as new Algeria Coach

Algeria’s former international, Rabah Madjer, has been appointed as the new Coach of the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

Algeria Football Federation made the announcement following the sack of former Coach Lucas Alcaraz and the information has been confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), on their official website.

Madjer, 58, is the fifth coach for Algeria within the last three years following resignations and sacks of former Coaches.

He took charge of his country for the first time in 1994, with his most recent run ending in 2002 after an early exit from that year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Mali.

Who is Rabah Madjer?

Rabah Madjer played for the Algerian National team in the striking position from 1975 to 1992. He however became famous as one of Algeria’s greatest player during his time in FC Porto. He won nine major trophies with the Portuguese club including three Portuguese National championships and the 1987 European Cup now known as the Champions League against Bayern Munich, 2-1.

Madjer was crowned the best Algerian footballer in the 20th century. He featured in two World Cups for Algeria, helping them to their Maiden Edition in 1982.

As hosts, he also helped Algeria win the 1990 African Cup of Nations where they beat Nigeria twice in the tournament. They thrashed Nigeria 5-1 in the first match and 1-0 in the final match. He scored his most famous goal in Algeria’s historic 2-1 win over Germany in the 1982 World Cup, with his opening goal in the 53rd minute.

Madjer won the Ballon d’or Africain, but was not allowed to compete for the European Golden Ball as he was not born in the region. In the first part of 1987–88 he scored ten times from only 11 appearances, and subsequently signed for La Liga’s Valencia CF in January 1988, returning to his previous team after only a few months for a further three campaigns.

Madjer retired from international football as Algeria’s top goal scorer with 28 goals in 87 appearances. He has managed several clubs since retirement. He coached the Algerian Natonal team in 1993 but resigned after failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup as well as the CAN, with him returning to Porto as a youth coordinator.

He started a career as a professional sport analyst in Qatar, for Aljazeera Sports.

His first task as the newly appointed Algeria coach is a match between Algeria and the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the World Cup qualifier, though it counts as nothing as they cannot qualify for the World cup.

Madjer however hopes to build the Algerian team and win back lost glories

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