A CAF Champions League-winning coach has admitted that leaving Africa to take up a job in Europe was among the "stupidest" decisions he has made.
Vahid Halilhodic, who led Raja Club Athletic to CAF Champions League glory in the 1996/97 season, has expressed deep regret over his decision to leave Africa after Algeria's historic run at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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The Bosnian tactician guided Algeria to the knockout stages for the first time in their history, where they pushed eventual world champions Germany to the limit before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat in extra time.
Despite calls from then-Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to stay on, Halilhodzic opted to move to Turkey, taking the managerial reins at Trabzonspor just days after leaving the Fennecs.
Looking back on that decision, the 71-year-old has now admitted it was a major misstep. "It's the biggest stupidity of my life," he told France Football per Afrik Foot.
His time in Turkey proved short-lived, as he parted ways with Trabzonspor within a few months.
Following his ill-fated European stint, Halilhodzic went on to coach Japan and later Morocco, with whom he secured qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup before being controversially dismissed just months before the tournament.
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The veteran coach remains without a job since leaving the Atlas Lions in August 2022.