has a habit of producing storylines that even the most inventive screenwriters might struggle to conjure. This is one of them. Five years after leading Switzerland to the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2020 (played in 2021), Vladimir Petkovic, now at the helm of Algeria, is set to face the side he once shaped. The reunion may be warm before kick-off, but once the whistle goes, ‘Vlado’ and his Fennec Foxes will be pulling one way, the Nati the other.
Switzerland know Petkovic inside out – and now he is the man they must overcome to reach the next round. Between 2014 and 2021, he took charge of 78 matches, more than any other Switzerland head coach. Few know him better than Vincent Cavin, his former assistant, who joined Gregg Berhalter as Chicago Fire’s technical director following his time with the USA national team.
“Vladimir is a very demanding coach,” said Cavin, who particularly enjoyed his years alongside Petkovic, having previously played under him at Lugano. “He comes across as charismatic, but not necessarily approachable. In reality, that’s not the case. You just have to get to know him. To earn his trust, you have to prove yourself.”
Under Petkovic, Switzerland achieved something they had not managed since 1954, when they hosted the FIFA World Cup™: they reached the quarter-finals of a major international tournament. Beyond leading Switzerland to their famous last-16 victory over France at EURO 2020 – where the Swiss came out on top 5-4 on penalties after a 3-3 draw – the former Lazio coach reshaped the identity of the Nati.
“He brought something completely new,” Cavin explained. “He wanted his team to be recognised for the way they played, not just the results. It wasn’t only about winning; it was about playing football people enjoyed watching.”
Of course, putting that philosophy into practice “takes time”. The 50-year-old coach had worked under Ottmar Hitzfeld, who favoured a completely different style, so he had a front-row seat as Petkovic’s system clicked into place.
“We were fortunate to get results early, which allowed us to continue in that direction,” Cavin added. “What we see on the pitch today is the result of the vision he implemented several years ago.”
In that sense, Petkovic will be reunited with more than former players. He will also come face to face with a footballing philosophy of which he remains one of the principal architects.
Most of Murat Yakin’s 26-man squad also played under Petkovic. Captain , in particular, forged a close bond with the Sarajevo-born coach. Cavin recalled a moment that encapsulated their relationship.
“I remember the victory against France at the EURO: the players all went to celebrate together, but Xhaka stopped, turned and ran straight to the coach. That moment says everything about their bond. The players also appreciate that he never tries to hog the limelight. He lets them take centre stage. They respect that a great deal.”
Long regarded as something of an enigma by the media and some members of the public, Petkovic ultimately left a positive impression and, above all, a legacy. Having guided Algeria into the knockout stage, he must now attempt to halt a Swiss side with momentum behind them – a train that he himself helped set in motion.
“Vladimir often spoke about ‘organised chaos’ in attack,” said Cavin. “I always liked that phrase. There was a collective structure, but the players were given a great deal of freedom to find their own solutions.”
That same philosophy appears to have travelled with him to Algeria.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t watched enough of Algeria’s matches to analyse them in depth, but from what I’ve seen, there is the same determination to keep possession, dominate matches and control what happens on the pitch,” said Cavin. “It feels like a continuation of what he built with Switzerland.”
In many ways, Switzerland and Algeria are now two sides of the same coin, tossed into the air by Petkovic himself. On Thursday, it must land on one side or the other.
Sources: FIFA Official
