Who is Ibrahim Hamdani.. Algeria's new coach?

Ibrahim Hamdani was not prominently present in the Algerian coaching scene a few months ago, but his achievement with the youth national team at the Mediterranean Games has quickly changed the course of his career.

After days of leading Algeria to the gold medal in Taranto, Italy, the former Algerian international found himself facing the biggest coaching test of his career, as the Algerian Football Federation decided to assign him the task of coaching the national team, replacing Swiss Vladimir Petković.

Hamdaní was born on March 15, 1978, in the French city of Colombes, and began his professional career in French football, where he played for Caen and RC Strasbourg Alsace before moving to Olympique Marseille, which was the highlight of his career as a player.

Between 2001 and 2005, the defensive midfielder established himself at one of the biggest clubs in France, reaching the UEFA Cup final in 2004.

His European journey did not stop at Marseille, as he later moved to Glasgow Rangers, spending four seasons there and reaching another European final in 2008. He had left Marseille after having captained the team, reflecting the status he had gained during his time in France.

On the international stage, Hamdaoui's participation with the Algeria national team was not long, as he wore the 'Greens' jersey on limited occasions before putting an end to his professional playing career in 2009.

After retiring, he chose to build his coaching experience away from the spotlight, starting to work in the lower tiers of French football, before taking on roles in the south of France and the Paris region, and then assuming greater responsibilities with Marignane.

A turning point came in July 2026 when he was appointed coach of the Algeria U20 national team, marking his first direct experience within the Algerian Football Federation.

Hamdaní quickly proved himself by leading the youth national team to gold at the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, ending a 51-year wait for Algerian football since their last Mediterranean gold.

This achievement has given Hamdani a strong boost, especially with his possession of the UEFA Pro license, which qualifies him to lead national teams at the continental level. With the departure of Petković, the coach of the youth team has transitioned from a future project to the main responsibility for the Algeria national team, now embarking on the toughest chapter of his coaching career, amid the hopes of the 'Greens' fans to lead the team into a new phase.