7th July, 2014
Algeria’s coach Vahid Halilhodzic has announced the end of his journey with the ‘Fennecs’ in a statement released by the Algerian Football Federation this Sunday.
“I would firstly like to thank His Excellency, the President of the Republic M. Abdelaziz Bouteflika who has touched me deeply with his warm welcome and words.
“I wish also to thank Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal whose encouragement and support I have enjoyed.I don’t forget to thank very much the President of FAF, Mohamed Raouraoua with whom I have closely worked for three years to achieve the set objectives and who put all the resources we needed at our disposal.
“I would like to pay tribute to the players, the technical, medical and administrative staff who have assisted me throughout my mission.
“I wish to associate the wonderful Algerian supporters to the success of the national team. They supported me from day one and remained faithful. I will never forget the extraordinary welcome we received on our way back from the World Cup.
“But I also want to highlight the behaviour of a certain press which has never stopped stigmatising my work and engaged in personal attacks against me and my family. I will never forget it and I will never forgive them.
“After spending three years in Algeria, my family commitments and the attraction for a new sporting challenge weighed heavily in my decision.
“I am leaving proud of my results and after having fully fulfilled my contract with FAF.”
Vahid Halilhodzic led Algeria to a historic qualification for the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.