Algerian football giants CR Bélouizdad have officially announced the appointment of French coach Corentin Martins as their new head coach.
The 55-year-old tactician has signed a one-year contract with the reigning Algerian Cup winners, marking a swift return to Algerian football just four months after his departure from Paradou AC.
Martins, renowned for his strategic acumen, replaces Brazilian coach Marcos Paqueta, whose contract expired on 30 June.
“The French coach Martins Corentins is officially the head coach of CR Bélouizdad. Good luck to the new coach in his duties,” the club stated on its official Facebook page.
The appointment of Martins comes at a pivotal moment for CR Bélouizdad. The club aims to build on its recent successes and make a significant impact in the upcoming African Champions League.
Martins brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously led Mauritania’s national team from 2014 to 2021. During his tenure, he achieved a historic milestone by guiding the Mourabitounes to their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations appearance in 2019.
CR Bélouizdad’s decision to bring Martins on board underscores their ambition to continue their domestic and continental success.
The club finished second in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 last season and clinched the Algerian Cup, setting high expectations for the upcoming season.
Martins faces the immediate challenge of preparing the team for their African Champions League preliminary round clash against AC Leopards.
With pre-season training set to begin next week, including a camp in Turkey, the new coach will have limited time to implement his strategies and philosophy.
In his previous stint in Algerian football with Paradou AC, Martins had mixed results. Over seven months, he led the team to 9 wins, 8 draws, and 5 defeats in 22 matches.
However, the pressure at CR Bélouizdad will be considerably higher, with the primary objective being to reclaim the league title.
As the new season approaches, CR Bélouizdad fans will be eager to see how Martins’ strategic expertise will shape the team’s performance on both domestic and continental stages.
