Abdelhak Benchikha (born 22 November 1963) is an Algerian football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of JS Kabylie.

Personal life

Benchikha was born on 22 November 1963 in the Soustarah neighborhood of Algiers. His family is originally from the village of Sidi Abderrahmane in the commune of Timezrit, Boumerdès Province.

Managerial career

Benchikha began his managerial career coach with CR Belouizdad, where he helped win the league title two consecutive seasons (2000 and 2001). He then briefly coached MC Alger and the Algerian Under-23 national team before returning to CR Belouizdad in the later part of the 2004–05 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 13 June 2007 Benchikha signed a one-year contract with Tunisian side Club Africain. 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 club FAR Rabat in the final. In March 2009, the club offered him an extension but Benchikha chose to leave the club.

Algeria A'

On 10 June 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 13 September 2010, Benchikha was appointed as coach of the Algerian national team on a permanent basis, following the resignation Rabah Saâdane. On 5 June 2011, a day after losing 4–0 in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco, Benchikha resigned from his position.

Club-hopping tenure

On 5 October 2011, Benchikha resigned from his position as manager of MC Alger. On 17 December 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. However, on 20 April 2012, a mutual agreement was reached by the club and Benchikha to terminate his contract. He later had short spells in different countries, in which he managed Difaâ El Jadidi, Raja Casablanca, IR Tanger, Moghreb Tétouan, Mouloudia Oujda, DH El Jadida and RS Berkane in Morocco, Al-Ittihad Kalba in the United Arab Emirates, ES Sétif in Algeria and Al-Ittihad Tripoli in Libya.

USM Alger

On 25 December 2022, Benchikha contracted with USM Alger for a year and a half succeeding Boualem Charef, with Farid Zamiti assistant and Farid Belmellat coach of the goalkeepers. On 13 March 2023, in the late match against HB Chelghoum Laïd in the Ligue 1, USM Alger supporters in the 37th minute of the second half left the stands in protest against the club administration. After the end of the match Benchikha stated that he did not understand the anger of the supporters and that he Satisfied with the performance of his players, especially since in a month they played eight matches. Benchikha set a goal, which is to win the CAF Confederation Cup, and his career was good, with his experience and the way he treated his players. Benchikha said after the match against ASEC Mimosas in the semi-finals that it is the time to win the CAF Confederation Cup title for the first time. In the final against Young Africans, Benchikha managed to win his first title in Algeria and the first continental title in the history of USM Alger. After the derby match against CR Belouizdad, Benchikha stated that the players after winning the CAF Confederation Cup went on vacation and that some players decided to leave. Benchikha said that he is comfortable and that if he can compete for titles he will stay or prefer to stay in his home. On 16 July 2023, Benchikha announced after the end of the Ligue 1 that he would remain in the club despite the offers he had received from clubs outside the country. Benchikha said that he started recruiting and that there were players who agreed with them to sign and others who renewed their contracts. On 15 September 2023, Benchikha won the CAF Super Cup title for the second consecutive season after winning against Al Ahly, it is the second African title that he presented to USM Alger in three months. On 9 October 2023 Abdelhak Benchikha submitted his resignation from his position, according to the official page on Facebook. The reason was that he was subjected to insults at the entrance to the Omar Hamadi Stadium. Later via video, Benchikha denied this and said that he resigned for sporting and professional reasons.

Simba SC

On 24 November 2023, Abdelhak Benchikha signed as Simba SC head coach replacing Robertinho, penning a contract for a year and a half. On 27 April 2024 Benchikha won the Tanzania FA Cup title against the NBC Premier League runner-up Azam. For his first season with the Tanzanians won the FA Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League losing to the title holders Al Ahly. The next day, Simba SC announced in a press release that Benchikha and his Algerian assistants, Kamel Boudjenane and Farid Zemiti, have decided to leave the club for family reasons. In a video published by the club's networks, Benchikha thanked the supporters, the staff and all of Simba SC.

Honours

As a manager

Umm Salal Club Africain Difaâ d'El Jadida RS Berkane USM Alger Simba SC

Managerial statistics