Algerian football club USM Alger has officially named Nabil Maaloul as their new head coach, signing the 61-year-old Tunisian tactician to a two-year contract.
Maaloul, who guided Tunisia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, brings a wealth of experience to a club eager to reclaim its former glory.
Maaloul’s appointment follows a challenging 2023-2024 season for USM Alger, during which they finished fourth in the Algerian top flight and were knocked out in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.
The club’s leadership hopes that Maaloul’s extensive experience will help steer the team back to the pinnacle of Algerian football.
Upon his arrival, Maaloul was given a comprehensive tour of the club’s facilities by chairman Athmane Sehbane. The tour included the club headquarters, the July 5 Stadium, and the nearly completed training center in Ain Bénian.
While Maaloul is familiar with the stadium from past visits, he showed a keen interest in the new training facility, inquiring about its completion date.
Maaloul’s resume is impressive. A former Tunisian international with 74 caps, he has enjoyed success both on the field and on the sidelines.
His managerial career includes multiple stints with the Tunisian national team and 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.
Maaloul’s immediate tasks at USM Alger include finalizing the pre-season preparation plan and assessing the current squad.
The club is expected to bolster its roster with both domestic and foreign signings, having already secured Algerian international Ilyes Chetti on a three-year deal from Wydad Casablanca.
USM Alger 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.
With Maaloul at the helm, USM Alger fans will be hopeful that the club can navigate the challenges ahead and emerge victorious on multiple fronts.
