Abdelhak Benchikha
Encyclopedia
Abdelhak Benchikha is specifically the citadel of Algiers in Algeria and the traditional quarter clustered around it. More generally, a kasbah is the walled citadel of many North African cities and towns...
, Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
) is an Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
n football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He was last manager of MC Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, before resigning on October 5, 2011.
Personal
Benchikha was born on November 22, 1963 in the SoustaraCasbah
The Casbah ) is specifically the citadel of Algiers in Algeria and the traditional quarter clustered around it. More generally, a kasbah is the walled citadel of many North African cities and towns...
neighborhood of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
. His father died when he was still young, and Benchikha was sent to live with a foster family in Bordj Bou Arreridj
Bordj Bou Arreridj
Bordj Bou Arréridj population 140,000 , is the capital city of Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria. It is situated 148 miles by road east of Algiers, near the Hodnar Massif in the southern Kabylia Mountains, at an elevation of 916 metres....
because his mother could not afford to support him.
His family is originally from the village of Sidi Abderrahmane in the commune of Timezrit
Timezrit, Boumerdès
Timezrit, Boumerdès is a town and commune in Boumerdès Province, Algeria. According to the 1998 census it has a population of 10,699....
, Boumerdès Province
Boumerdès Province
Boumerdès is a province of northern Algeria, between Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou, with its capital at the coastal city of Boumerdès just east of Algiers.-Administrative divisions:...
.
Managerial career
Benchikha began his managerial career as an assistant coach with CR BelouizdadCR Belouizdad
Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad is an Algerian football club based in Mohamed Belouizdad, a district of Algiers. It was founded in 1962...
, where he helped win the league title two years in a row, in 2000 and 2001. He then briefly coached MC Alger and the Algerian Under-23 national team
Algeria Olympic football team
Algeria Olympic football team represents Algeria in international football competitions in Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, except during the Olympic Games where the use of three overage players is allowed...
before returning to CR Belouizdad
CR Belouizdad
Chabab Riadhi de Belouizdad is an Algerian football club based in Mohamed Belouizdad, a district of Algiers. It was founded in 1962...
in the later part of the 2004-2005 season. Benchikha then moved to Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
and joined Umm-Salal Sports Club
Umm-Salal Sports Club
Umm-Salal Sport Club is a Qatari football team playing at the first level. It is based in Umm Salal. It was previously known as Al-Tadamun 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 Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n side ES Zarzis.
Club Africain
On June 13, 2007, Benchikha signed a one year contract with TunisiaTunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n side Club Africain
Club Africain
The Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
. 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. Just a few months later, he followed that up with a triumph in the 2008 North African Cup of Champions beating Moroccan
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
club FAR Rabat
FAR Rabat
Forces Armées Royales de Rabat is a Moroccan football club based in Morocco's capital city .The club was founded in 1958 soon after Morocco had gained their independence, and is one of the most famous football clubs in Morocco with Raja and Wydad. FAR stands for , roughly translated to mean Royal...
in the final. In March 2009, the club offered him an extension but Benchikha chose to leave the club.
Algeria A'
On June 10, 2009, Benchikha was appointed as coach of the Algeria A' national football teamAlgeria A' national football team
The Algeria A' national football team is the local national football team of Algeria and is open only to domestic league players. The team represents Algeria at the African Championship of Nations and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football....
and the Algerian Under-23 national team
Algeria Olympic football team
Algeria Olympic football team represents Algeria in international football competitions in Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, except during the Olympic Games where the use of three overage players is allowed...
. He qualified the A' national team to the 2011 African Nations Championship
2011 African Nations Championship
The 2011 African Nations Championship was the second edition of the African Nations Championship tournament. Each participating nation was represented by players who play in their respective local divisions. The competition was hosted in Sudan from February 4 to 25, 2011...
, after beating Libya
Libya national football team
The Libya national football team is the national association football team of Libya and is controlled by the Libyan Football Federation. The team has never qualified for the senior FIFA World Cup. They have qualified for three Africa Cup of Nations, one in 1982 where they finished runners-up and...
2-2 on the away goals rule.
Algeria National Team
On September 13, 2010, Benchikha was appointed as coach of the Algerian national teamAlgeria national football team
The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified...
on a permanent basis, following the resignation Rabah Saâdane
Rabah Saadane
Rabah Saâdane is a retired Algerian professional football player whose playing career was abruptly interrupted at the age of 27 by a car accident...
. On June 5, 2011, a day after losing 4-0 in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
, Benchikha resigned from his position.
On October 5, 2011, Benchikha resigned from his position as manager of MC Alger.
Honours
- Won the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 twice with CR BelouizdadCR BelouizdadChabab Riadhi de Belouizdad is an Algerian football club based in Mohamed Belouizdad, a district of Algiers. It was founded in 1962...
in 2000 and 2001 as assistant coach - Won the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1The CLP-1 or "Championnat de la Ligue Professionnelle 1" is the top division of the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. It was created in 1921.-History:...
once with Club AfricainClub AfricainThe Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
in 2008 - Won the North African Cup of ChampionsNorth African Cup of ChampionsThe North African Cup of Champions is a tournament designed by the Union of North African Football that puts together the winners of the domestic leagues around North Africa. The tournament contains representatives from Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.-Origin:On October 6, the representatives...
once with Club AfricainClub AfricainThe Club Africain , also known as CA or Al Nadi Al Ifriki, is a Tunisian omnisport club founded in 1920 in Tunis. Club Africain football section is best known for its section of football...
in 2008 - Won the Qatar 2nd Division once with Umm-Salal SCUmm-Salal Sports ClubUmm-Salal Sport Club is a Qatari football team playing at the first level. It is based in Umm Salal. It was previously known as Al-Tadamun Club....
in 2006