The new leaders of USM Alger (USMA) are struggling to find a replacement for Juan Carlos Garrido, whose contract was not renewed at the end of last season.
Several options have been explored, but none have materialized, putting the management in a difficult position as time is running out to prepare for the new season. Rumors have suggested a possible return of Hervé Renard, who will be available after the Paris Olympics.
After ruling out Hossam Al-Badry, initially a favorite, and facing refusals from Abdelhak Benchikha and Nasreddine Nabi, the potential arrival of Frenchman Pascal Dupraz seemed promising but ultimately fell through last week. Currently, no concrete option is on the horizon, creating confusion within the club.
According to a credible source, Mohamed Karim-Eddine Harkati, CEO of the Serport Group, has proposed Abdelkader Amrani as a potential candidate. While Harkati generally does not interfere in the club’s decisions, he believes that Amrani, who recently led CSC to second place in the league, would be a good choice. Amrani, currently without a contract after leaving CSC, is open to new opportunities. His staff includes familiar figures from USMA: his assistant Azzedine Rahim, goalkeeper coach Lyes Benhaha, and fitness coach Modjahed Belaid.
However, this suggestion is not unanimous. Athmane Sahbane, chairman of the club’s board, is open to Amrani’s appointment. In contrast, sports director Billel Dziri prefers a foreign coach, preferably French. Having worked with coaches like Hervé Renard, Rolland Courbis, and Hubert Velud, Dziri believes that a coach from the French school would better suit USMA’s ambitions.
Dziri is therefore striving to find a candidate fitting this profile, but the decision needs to be made quickly. It is crucial that the future coach is involved in planning the preseason and in player recruitment for the upcoming season.
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