Abdelhak Benchikha

Abdelhak Benchikha
Personal information
Full nameAbdelhak Benchikha
Date of birthNovember 22, 1963
Place of birthSoustara, Algiers, Algeria
Youth career
USM Alger
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
MC Alger
JS Bordj Ménaïel
JS El Biar
1991–1994ES Zarzis
Teams managed
1999–2001CR Belouizdad (Assistant Coach)
MC Alger
Algeria U23
2005CR Belouizdad
2005–2006Umm Salal SC
2006–2007ES Zarzis
2007–2009Club Africain
2009–2010Algeria A' / Algeria U23
2010–2011Algeria
2011-2012MC Alger
2011–2012Club Africain
2013–2014Difaâ El Jadidi
2014Raja Casablanca
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Abdelhak Benchikha (born November 22, 1963) is an Algerian football manager who is currently the manager of Moroccan Botola Pro side Raja Casablanca.

Personal

Benchikha was born on November 22, 1963 in the Soustara neighborhood of Algiers.[1] His father died when he was still young, and Benchikha was sent to live with a foster family in Bordj Bou Arreridj because his mother could not afford to support him.

His family is originally from the village of Sidi Abderrahmane in the commune of Timezrit, Boumerdès Province.[1]

Managerial career

Benchikha began his managerial career coach with CR Belouizdad, where he helped win the league title two years in a row, in 2000 and 2001.[2] He then briefly coached MC Alger and the Algerian Under-23 national team before returning to CR Belouizdad in the later part of the 2004-2005 season. Benchikha then moved to Qatar and joined Umm-Salal Sports Club, which was playing in the second division. In his only season with the club, he helped it gain promotion to the top flight. The following season, he joined the Tunisian side ES Zarzis.

Club Africain

On June 13, 2007, Benchikha signed a one year contract with Tunisian side Club Africain.[3] In his first season with the club, he led them to the league title for the first time in 12 years, beating out Etoile du Sahel by just 2 points in the final standings.[4] Just a few months later, he followed that up with a triumph in the 2008 North African Cup of Champions beating Moroccan club FAR Rabat in the final. In March 2009, the club offered him an extension but Benchikha chose to leave the club.[5]

Algeria A'

On June 10, 2009, Benchikha was appointed as coach of the Algeria A' national football team and the Algerian Under-23 national team. He qualified the A' national team to the 2011 African Nations Championship, after beating Libya 2-2 on the away goals rule.

Algeria National Team

On September 13, 2010, Benchikha was appointed as coach of the Algerian national team on a permanent basis, following the resignation Rabah Saâdane.[6] On June 5, 2011, a day after losing 4-0 in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco, Benchikha resigned from his position.[7]

On October 5, 2011, Benchikha resigned from his position as manager of MC Alger.[8]

On December 17, 2011, Benchikha signed an 18 month contract with Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 side Club Africain, returning to the club which he led to the 2008 league title.[9] However, on April 20, 2012, a mutual agreement was reached by the club and Benchikha to terminate his contract.[10]

Honours

  • Winners (1): 2013

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 EN : Benchikha raconte son histoire en photos
  2. ↑ C'est finalement Benchikha
  3. ↑ Benchikha et Korichi en Tunisie
  4. ↑ Benchikha champion de Tunisie
  5. ↑ Le Club Africain tient à Benchikha
  6. ↑ Abdelhak Benchikha is appointed coach of Algeria
  7. ↑ Equipe nationale : Démission d’Abdelhak Benchikha
  8. ↑ DZFoot.com, October, 2011.
  9. ↑ International : Benchikha de retour au Club Africain; DZFoot, December 17, 2011.
  10. ↑ Toufik O. (April 20, 2012). "Benchikha n'est plus l'entraîneur du CA (TUN)" (in French). DZFoot. Retrieved April 20, 2012.