Algiers, Algeria – Algerian football club, USM Alger, has appointed Tunisian Nabil Maaloul as their new head coach on a two-year contract.
The 61-year-old Tunisian tactician, who led Tunisia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, officially joined the club on Wednesday, marking a significant move for the club.
Maâloul’s appointment comes after a challenging 2023-2024 season for USM Alger, which saw them finish fourth in the Algerian top flight and eliminated in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The club’s leadership is hoping that Maâloul’s extensive experience will help restore USM Alger to its former glory.
Upon signing his contract, Maâloul was given a tour of the club’s facilities by club chairman, Athmane Sehbane.
The tour included visits to the club headquarters, the July 5 stadium, and the nearly completed training center in Ain Bénian.
Maâloul, already familiar with the stadium from past experiences, showed particular interest in the new training facility, inquiring about its completion date.
The new coach brings an impressive resume to USM Alger. A former Tunisian international with 74 caps, Maaloul has enjoyed success both as a player and coach.
His managerial career includes multiple stints with the Tunisian national team, as well as coaching roles in Tunisia, Qatar, Syria, and Kuwait.
Notably, he led Espérance Tunis to three Tunisian league titles and the 2011 CAF Champions League trophy.
Maâloul’s immediate tasks include finalizing the pre-season preparation plan and assessing the current squad.
USM Alger is expected to reinforce its roster with both domestic and foreign signings, having already secured Algerian international, Ilyes Chetti, on a three-year deal from Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.
The club faces a busy schedule in the upcoming season, competing on four fronts, including the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
They will enter the competition in the second preliminary round, facing the winner of the match between Jamus FC Juba (South Sudan) and Stade Tunisien.
