Djamel Menad


Djamel Menad is a retired Algerian footballer, who played as a forward, and a current manager.

Club career

Born in El Bayadh, Menad started his playing career with CR Belouizdad, before moving to JS Kabylie. In 1987, he signed with French side Nîmes Olympique, competing in three Ligue 2 seasons and appearing in nearly 100 official games. In 1989–90, he scored a career-best – in Europe – 12 goals in 27 games, but his team fell short of promotion after finishing in third position.
Menad spent the following three seasons in Portugal, appearing for F.C. Famalicão and C.F. Os Belenenses, always in the top division. Subsequently, aged 33, he returned to his country and retired four years later, after stints with former club Kabylie and USM Alger.
In 2005, Menad started coaching, managing his last team as a player. On 14 May 2011, he was fired from his post at JSM Bejaia.

International career

Menad gained the first of his 81 caps for Algeria in 1982. Previously, in 1980, he played Olympic football in Moscow, helping the national team to the quarterfinals.
Menad was selected to the squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. There, he appeared in group stage losses against Brazil and Spain. In 1990, he helped the hosts win the Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as the competition's top scorer with four goals.
Menad finished third for the 1986 African Footballer of the Year award.

Doping mystery

In November 2011 Menad, who has a disabled daughter, and other of his World Cup Finals teammates called for an investigation into whether their children's disabilities had in any way to do with medication ordered to them by Algeria's Soviet coach Evgeni Rogov.

Honours

Club

CR Belouizdad
JS Kabylie