User:Hichem blida/sandbox7

USM Alger's team during their first season 1937–38
with From Left to Right:
Stand Up : Hamid Bahri - Mohamed Hamdi - Youssef Choudar - Benhora - Franck (GK) - Driss.
Sitting Smain - Mokrane - Nasri - Ortula - Houari.

The history of Union Sportive Médina d'Alger, commonly referred to as USM Alger or simply USMA, is an Algerian professional association football club based in Algiers, whose first team play in the highest tier of Algerian football, the Ligue 1. Established on 5 July 1937. He won the first trophy in 1963 against MC Alger and reached the final of the cup. 17 time, a record, including five consecutive times from 1969 to 1973 and won eight first time in 1981 against ASM Oran and last against MC Alger in 2013 also made the USMA Super Cup twice either on the level of the Continental USM Alger did not achieve any title and the best result is the 2015 CAF Champions League Final The team landed to the second division of several times the first from 1965 to 1969 and, latest of which, the longest from 1990 to 1995 USMA won the UAFA Club Cup in 2013 against the Al-Arabi Club Kuwaiti 3–2 on aggregate as the first international title but is not recognized by FIFA.

Early years

File:Les Fondateurs de l'USMA les frères meddad.jpg

The Founders of Union Sportive Musulmane Algéroise, the Meddad brothers Ali, Saïd and Rezki at the benkanoun cafe & sports cafe.

In July 1935, Omar Aichoun and Mustapha Kaoui, both merchants of jute bags, decided to create an exclusively Muslim sports association in which no European would appear. At the time, the National Movement, led by Étoile Nord-Africaine of Emir Khalid ibn Hashim, grandson of Emir Abdelkader, ran out of steam while the creation of the PPA (Parti Politique Algérien), spiritual father, was organized. of the FLN, Aichoun and Kaoui, join the popular effervescence. They frequent the activists of the National Movement, many in the district of the Casbah and hear about the need to create sports clubs, the ideal framework to bring together Algerian youth. The increasingly seasoned national movement is pushing for the creation of sports associations.

Union sportive musulmane algéroise.

During the year 1935, the two men will multiply contacts, helped by Arezki Meddad, father of the future chahida Ourida Meddad. Their choice falls on Ali Lahmar, said Ali Zaid, future chahid of the liberation war and Sid Ahmed Kemmat. These men formed the first office of USMA, an office chaired by Ali Zaid, the honorary presidency going to Omar Aichoun and Arezki Meddad. In addition to their nationalist and sporting activities, Omar Aichoun and Mustapha Kaoui also frequent the Nadi Ettaraki (Circle of progress), an association created under the so-called 1901 law. Its head office is at « 9, place du Gouvernement » (Today). Place des Martyrs), in Algiers, The circle of progress is managed by the Islamic Reform Movement (El Islah), led by Sheikh Tayeb El Okbi, whose son Djamel will later be USM Alger goalkeeper. Fearing that the practice of sport is incompatible with the precepts of Islam, those concerned seek advice from the Sheikh, who encourages them and offers his blessing to USMA. For the administrative procedures and in order to obtain the agreement of the colonial authorities, they request the statutes from the Secretary General of MC Alger who willingly gives him a copy.

There was a neighborhood team, the sports club on the rue saluste which we liked. We were Lahmar said Ali Zaid, Zemmour Ali, Slimani Ali, Bennour Said, Meddad Arezki and me, a bunch of neighborhood friends who lived through the hard times of colonization. We often discussed everything, things of life And then one thing leading to another we came to sport. The example of the Muslim clubs of the time ignited us. We had a burning desire to do something whenever the topic was brought up. All these clubs had inspired us, including OSM Oran, which was created in 1928. As far as the appellation is concerned, I knew all the cogs of such an operation. My frequent contacts with Mouloud Djazouli, a very active leader of MC Alger, had taught me a lot. I got to work straight away. It was necessary to prepare the statutes and the file to be deposited with the services of the prefecture. As soon as it is said, as soon as it is done, the file is recorded under the number - wait if I remember correctly - 1687. The only thing that "shocked" the colonial administration was the word Muslim. He was very frowned upon. We discussed, argued on both sides and agreement was granted. On July 5, 1937 the club was created. USMA was born. Its headquarters were in the rue du Divan. Its first board of directors includes of course the first ones named above to which will be added Amrani Abdelkader, Hemmaz Omar, Lakehal Omar, Basta Mohamed Ouali, Zennagui Mohamed, and Cherifi Ali. The first president was Meddad Arezki, the owner of the neighborhood café. When it was announced to him.

— The idea of creating a club came to Sid Ahmed Kemmat after having started to germinate during the month of May 1937.

stade marcel cerdan USM Alger played some of its matches during the colonial period.

The USMA option having been successful, the PPA renewed the operation and thus Union Sportive Musulmane, Espérance Sportives Musulmane, Jeunesse Sportive Musulmane, Widad and Croissant club were born. They were everywhere these clubs which were schools of Nationalism and Patriotism. Union Sportive Musulmane Algéroise was therefore born, and was ready to participate in 1938 in the 3rd division championship. At that time many players had expressed the wish to come to this club, unfortunately the regulations (license B) prohibited them. In addition, all participating clubs had to have a stadium for the competition. A criterion for which the federation of the time was uncompromising. This is what Mr. Kemmat did in the face of these two problems: “USM Alger at the time required a contract with a stadium for a minimum period of five years. This is to ensure the running of the competitions. I had contacted the leaders of the O club. Pointe Pescade (current Raïs Hamidou) and we had come to an understanding by paying him five thousand francs annually. For the money, no need to tell you where it came from ”, he adds with a sigh which speaks volumes about the state of mind that reigned at that time. The first official match was on October 17, 1937 against JSO Hussein Dey and it ended in a draw.

Through World War II

El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka The Grand Master of Andalusian classical music and Algerian chaâbi music, he was one of the biggest fans of the club, which gave the proceeds of several concerts for USM Alger.

Then came World War II during which the competition system in the League Algiers was changed to three groups and for three seasons, Abderrahman Ibrir former center-half of AST Alger, became a goalkeeper with USMA and even had his first selection of Algiers under USMA colors, USM Alger contracted with a significant number of players and they are Zitouni Hassen, Zouaoui Rabah, Mahmoudi Smain, Naceri M'hamed and Houari GS Orleans city (now Chlef) Berkani Olympique de Tizi Ouzou. In the 1939–40 season USM Alger played for the first time in the first division and because of the outbreak of the World War II the championship was divided into three groups where USM Alger signed in the group A the team was bad where they won only two games against the same team US Alger and they was defeated in 9 games where USM Alger could not face the big teams then like RU Alger and AS Saint Eugène in the end, finished second to last either in Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de la Solidarité the journey ended in the first round against US Blida and Stade Algérois respectively. The resumption of official competitions occur in 1942. For the 1942–43 season, USMA returns to the third division according to the regulations in force. Mr El-Hadj Ahmed Kemmat intervenes:

The regulations stipulated that. You can imagine, doing a Muslim club a favor was unimaginable.

— El-Hadj Ahmed Kemmat, January 2009

However, at the end of this season, USMA reached the second division with Mustapha El-Kamal as coach. The headquarters are now rue de Bône and the USMA has meanwhile opened its doors to other sports sections such as boxing, basketball and cycling. The activities continue their little way thanks to the dedication of Amrani Abdelkader, Abdelhamid Mohamed and Cherchari Abdelkader, the main leaders of these new disciplines. Its border location between the towns of Bologhine (Ex Saint Eugene) and Bab El Oued, gives it the advantage to dominate a beautiful bay dominated by the promontory of Z'ghara district and the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa. This town which was very popular for its beauty, from the Ottoman period, and where were localized deys summer residences and some diplomatic representations, such as consulates of France, Belgium, England and the United States, passed to the rank common in colonial times and as of September 14, 1870 where she was baptized under the name of St. Eugene in honor of Eugene account Guyot, civilian director of Algiers from 1839 to 1844 and also gave its name City Guyotville (now Ain Benian). After the massacres of May 8, 1945 in Setif, Guelma and Kherrata USM Alger administration decided to change the Maroon color to the black in mourning for the lives of the victims to become the club's colors red and black. 45,000 Algerian demonstrators came out to celebrate the end of hostilities in World War II that day, recalling the colonial forces their patriotic claims. But the bloody repression of the French army found no other way to meet their legitimate demands that cause genocide. To show their patriotic commitment and sympathy, The black is synonymous with grief and they have changed Maroon to red which represents the blood of martyrs who fell that day.

Instability of results (1950–56)

USM Alger in 1950 was promoted to the First division with the Krimo brothers, the Azzouz brothers, Chabli, Benhaik and that was at the same time one day before the period of the great break towards Hammam-Lif, also they Change the club headquarters from rue du Divan (behind Ketchaoua Mosque) to rue de Bône and at the same time USM Alger opened its doors to other sports divisions such as boxing, basketball and cycling. Activities continue on their way thanks to the dedication of Abdelkader Omrani, Mohamed Abdelhamid and Abdelkader Cherchari, the main leaders of these new disciplines. Mr.Kemmat would like to remind us of this Abdelkader Cherchari who was the head of the cycling department has donated one of the three pieces that the USM used as a seat. Examples of this kind, each given according to his means, a school where the youth took as a model for all these men who were born Here, it's up to Ali Zammouri, one of those who was part of the founding group, had the particularity of taking care of patching all his football boots at the end of each season and at his own expense. The 1951–52 season witnessed the joining of Abdelhamid Kermali to the club coming from USM Sétif and after only one season, Kermali moved to France to play with FC Mulhouse. after which he wrote his name who went in the history of Algerian football that is led the Algerian national team to the first African Cup of Nations in 1990.

USM Alger and National Liberation War (1956–62)

1 Lahmar Ali says Zaid, 2 Athmane Doudah
3 Belkaraoui Abdelkader, 4 Mekirri Boualem
5 Hamitouche Mohamed, 6 Mustapha Ouaguenouni
7 Oukid Mustapha, 8 Lounas Mustapha says Hafiz
9 Basta Mohamed, 10 Halami Mohamed
11 Boudissa Abdelkader, 12 Louchal Mahmoud
13 Slama Merzak says Pons, 14 Oukid Allal
15 Mustapha Dimama

— The list of club children killed for a match.

In 1956, the central management of the FLN decided to cease all sporting activities of Muslim clubs. A meeting was held at the USMA circle on Rue de Bône to decide on the cessation of football. It was held under the chairmanship of Ali Cherifi, vice-president of USMA and responsible for finances of Zone autonome d'Alger (ZAA). Two of the first officials of Zone autonome d'Alger (ZAA) were then part of USMA. and in the 1955–56 season, the USM Alger participated in the second division in groupe III, the last season before the independence of Algeria, where on March 4, 1956 in the 16th round against AS Rivet and two games before the end of the season USM Alger withdrew from the tournament, the League of Algiers office registered the packages of many Muslim clubs following the events that occurred at the match between the MC Alger and AS Saint Eugène. In Promotion Honneur, RC Kouba, USM Marengo, WR Belcourt, JS Kabylie, JS El Biar and OM Saint Eugène declared general forfeiture on 11 March 1956. Given the exceptional circumstances and circumstances The league still decided to put them in the final standings in order not to penalize them (because normally the rule stipulates it is a downgrading in lower division for any general package), with a view to of a possible resumption of their activities for the next season. this withdrawal i come at the request of the National Liberation Front (FLN) in support of the revolution against French colonialism and the delivery of voice to the world after the withdrawal, he joined a number of the squad to the front in the mountains.

After independence

Algeria's first champion

Abdelaziz Ben Tifour, coach of USM Alger receives from the hands of Ahmed Ben Bella president, the first trophy Algerian football championship, under the gaze of president of FAF, Dr Maouche (left) and Minister of Defense Houari Boumedienne (right).

football competitions come to life in the country. Given the geographical distribution of the clubs throughout the country, formerly divided into three departments under the French colonial administration, each league took over the organization of the competitions in an autonomous way, encouraged by the Ministry of Sports and Youth. In the early years, the competitions thus restarted in the form of regional criteria at the end of which were sacred the departmental champions who were then to compete in the form of tournaments "play off" to designate the Champion of Algeria. League beginning with the first post-independence the USM Alger administration to bring the former Nice and Monaco player Abdelaziz Ben Tifour to be a coach and a player at the same time, also included one foreign player Freddy Zemmour from Pied-Noir one of the few French players who have decided to stay in Algeria. USM Alger took place in Group V and took first place with 51 points and strongest offensive line in each league with 75 goal after the piece and in Algiers League in a group with MC Alger, AS Orléansville, NA Hussein Dey and OM Saint Eugène took first place also with 12 points from 12 to advance to the semi-finals and play against Hamra Annaba previously USM Annaba and won to qualify for the final of the first tournament in the history of Algeria, and find MC Alger again The Red and Black, led by player-coach Bentifour easily outweigh the score of 3–0 in a match played at the Stade d'El Annasser, in the presence of President Ahmed Ben Bella and Minister of Defense Houari Boumedienne. From here Sostara was honored to be the first club to win the championship title in the era of independence.

either in Algerian Cup USMA eliminated from semi-final against ES Setif and defeated, in the next season USMA finished third, one point behind champion for Algérois group NA Hussein Dey either in the Cup and the team arrived in the semi-final against the same team ES Setif, in the 1964–65 season the team fell to the second division and finished in last place, either in the Cup stopped the march in the second round against NA Hussein Dey. In their first season in the Division Honneur team finished second behind champion MC Alger difference of 7 points to ascend together to Nationale II 1966–67 in the new version, with ten clubs the next season USMA failed to return to the first division and finished fifth and the top scorer with 8 goals Meziani, in either competition Cup team reached the semi-finals and was defeated again against ES Setif 1–3 aggregate This is the third time excludes USMA at the hands of ES Setif in the semi-finals, in the 1967–68 season after the USM Alger attempts to climb continued but failed again and finished fifth, 4 points for second promoted JS Djijel and again Meziani is the top scorer, and finally in the 1968–69 season the USMA was able to return to Nationale I after four seasons in the lower grades and occupied second place behind champion JS Kabylie and celebrations continued arrival of the team for the first time to Algerian cup final However, were defeated against the National champion CR Belcourt by score 3–5 after replay the match.

Five consecutive finals in the Algerian Cup

USM Alger 1969–70 with From Left to Right:
Stand Up : Abdouche - Berahma - Saadi - Zebairi - Debbah - Belbekri.
Sitting Tchalabi - Allik - Meziani - Zitoune - Aissaoui.

In the late sixties and seventies USM Alger arrived seven times to the Algerian Cup final including five consecutive, before that USM Alger was eliminated three times in the semi-finals and against the same club ES Sétif, first final was in 1969 The journey was balanced, and in the quarter and semi-finals, USM Alger met in the derby against RC Kouba and NA Hussein Dey and won a goal in both of them to reach the final to face CR Belcourt who is the champion of Algeria at the same time and lose 5–3 in a rematch, including the first hat-trick in the Algerian Cup final scored by Hacène Lalmas. Despite that, USM Alger was included in participating in the Maghreb Cup Winners Cup as runner-up of the Algerian Cup, that took place in Morocco where USM Alger reached the final and was defeated against RS Settat the champion of Coupe du Trône. In the next final against the same club CR Belcourt was defeated, for the second time in a row after a draw The match was replayed and ending in a 4–1 defeat. Despite that USM Alger again participated in the Maghreb Cup Winners Cup as a runner-up of the Algerian Cup, finished in the last place with two defeats against Club Africain and Wydad Casablanca.

In 1971 after a long march due to playing the quarter and semi-finals in home and away system Al-Ittihad reached the final to face in the Algiers Derby, MC Alger and be defeated again. before her in the semi-finals in Khenchela against the local team, Al-Ittihad was not welcomed because of a word used by USM Alger supporters which is that Khenchela is “Shawiya” a term that has been misinterpreted and they prepared a hostile reception, and the match lasted four hours due to the storming to the stadium several times by the supporters. After the end of the match USM Alger players who were accompanied by a handful of fans, remained locked in the dressing rooms until midnight and after the intervention of a Gendarmerie brigade sent from Batna. his return to Algiers was around 9 am the next day, then the Algerian Football Federation at that time punished the two clubs by playing 50 kilometers away from its stadium for one year. As for USM Alger it received in the 1971–72 season at Stade des Frères Brakni. In 1972 the journey to the final was not easy, with a goal difference in three out of four matches to face Hamra Annaba in the opening of the new stadium Stade du 5 Juillet by President Houari Boumédiène and it ended in loss, The club was deprived of the services of Kamel Tchalabi who played the military final and despite they promise him to play if he participated in one half and scored, but he was prevented from participating. The last Algerian Cup final was against neighbors MC Alger, and ended with the fifth defeat in a row.

First professional era (1977–1989)

Change the name and first Algerian cup

Saadi Yacef club president from, 1972 to 1975 was one of the leaders of Algeria's National Liberation Front during his country's war of independence.

Also in the same period, the results of USM Alger in the Division 1 were not good, where USM Alger was the best ranked is fourth in the 1975–76 season, which saw the heaviest victory in the history of the Algerian League registered the name of the USM Alger, increasing the lead 11–0 against ASM Oran in Stade du 5 Juillet including five goals by Djamel Zidane, Also in the last round and in the same stadium witnessed another big victory against USM Bel Abbès with eight including two hat-tricks from Zitoun and Amenouche. The seventies it's saw instability at the managers level including Ahmed Zitoun, Abdelghani Zitouni, Hamid Belamine and Ahmed Arab each one in two periods, USK Alger also fell to the second division for two seasons from 1972 to 1974, towards the end of 1974, a sports reform was carried out as intended by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in order to give the elite clubs a good financial base allowing them to structure themselves professionally (in ASP Which means Association Sportive de Performances). The aim was therefore that they should have full management autonomy with the creation of their own training center. For this, many clubs had to sacrifice their names and rename them according to the main sponsor. In some club names, the letter P of the oil tankers of Sonatrach was shown to sponsor MC Alger, MC Oran and ES Sétif, renamed MP Alger, MP Oran and EP Sétif. and during the 1977–78 season, the team changed its name, to be named this time Union sportive kahraba d'Alger (Arabic: كهرباء, kahraba) meaning electricity who had inherited the Société nationale de l'électricité et du gaz company (Sonelgaz).

After seven finals, El Kahraba was able to achieve first Cup title 1980–81 season against ASM Oran coached by Ali Benfadah in the new stadium Stade 24 Fevrier 1956, becoming the first club to win the Algerian Cup title from the second division, USM Alger some officials and supporters believe that the reason for the losses of the previous finals is the President of Algeria Houari Boumédiène who had a great hostility to the president who preceded him Ahmed Ben Bella who is known as a great fan of USM Alger and they say why after his death they achieved the Algerian Cup title after seven defeats including five in a row, After achieving Ascension the first game of the season was in the Super Cup, in the first version at Stade du 20 Août 1955, against RC Kouba last season champions and ended with a loss. USM Alger finished the season in ninth place and in monitoring the first post in a continental competition of the African Cup Winners Cup USMA reached the quarter-finals and eliminated in front of Hearts of Oak, in 1987 the club name was changed again to Union d'Alger until 1989, faced with a major financial and economic crisis, the Algerian government in place in 1989 decides to abandon the 1977 reform. Most clubs thus reconnect with their original names where change of a new name for the last time to Union sportive de la médina d'Alger (Arabic: مدينة, médina) meaning city.

Second cup and fall to the second division

Djamel Keddou, was an USM Alger player and manager, he led USM Alger to the Algerian Cup in 1981 and 1988.

USK Alger celebrated its 50th anniversary and the opportunity to bring everyone together has not been seized. Many of these people did not participate in this celebration. From the founding father Sid Ahmed Kemmat to the sympathetic son like Boualem Rahma the Chaabi singer, However they forgot many faces that presented to the club that the reasons the party was not complete. After that the USM Alger's results fluctuated between ups and downs for a decade and in spite of that and in the 1987–88 season the club returned to the first division with a young squad, mostly from Reserve team under the leadership of coach and former captain of the team Djamel Keddou, and despite the lack of experience, USM Alger managed to win the Algerian Cup for the second time after winning against CR Belouizdad with penalties at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 which is the fourth final between the two teams and the first victory for USMA after three defeats, after the match Amar Kabrane was subjected to great criticism and was accused of deliberately wasting the penalty shootout, especially since he then moved to them, USM Alger guarantee the qualification card for the African Cup Winners Cup for the second time, where USMA reached the quarter-finals and after the defeat in Algeria against the Malagasy club Football Club Banky they decided not to complete the competition for financial reasons. 1989–90 season was falling to the second division, and the USMA finished in last place with the weakest line of defense.

After the fall USM Alger was looking for a quick return to the first division, but it failed to achieve it. As for the Algerian Cup USMA reached the quarter-finals and eliminated against USM Bel Abbès and at the end of the season, the club's top scorer Tarek Hadj Adlane left for JS Kabylie. USMA suffered during this period of stability at the administrative level, as the chair of the Board of Directors witnessed a change three times, each of Saïd Hammo, Rachid Khelouati and Mouldi Aïssaoui and Algeria witnessed a great political and economic crisis and the beginning of the black decade greatly affected the club's future. Also at the level of managers witnessed instability and the position of the coach was traded in a large number during this period including the Soviet Acramov. In the 1992–93 season, the club trained by four coaches at the same time including Allik and Aïssaoui which has not happened in its history. In the following season USMA competed strongly for the ticket to the first division to the last round and with a difference in direct confrontations with ASO Chlef it failed to achieve its goal.

Saïd Allik Era (1994–2010)

Back in the top flight and win the title after 33 years

USM Alger Team Winning the league title season 1995–96.

In 1994 Saïd Allik became Chairman of the Board of Directors of USM Alger and promised to return the team to Division 1, On May 26, 1995 USM Alger won away from home against MC Ouargla and achieved an promotion challenge back to the Division 1 after five full seasons under the leadership of Younes Ifticène, Allik announce that USM Alger has returned to its normal place and will not fall again to the second division, In 1995–96 season Ifticen left USM Alger despite achieving the underlined goal to be replaced by Nour Benzekri Who withdrew in the middle of the season due to his disagreement with Azzedine Rahim, the latter was seriously injured after a violent intervention from Tarek Lazizi and due to the seriousness of the injury Rahim was transferred for treatment to Salt Lake City, United States and stayed there for a long time, Despite that Rahim continued to suffer until he finished his career early. In Algiers Derby who played in Omar Hamadi Stadium and after USM Alger scored a goal, the assistant referee was injured by smoke gases, to stop and be repeated behind closed doors in the same stadium. After that it was decided that the Algiers Derby would not be played in the future in this stadium with the presence of the fans. After a great struggle with MC Oran for the title and in the last round USM Alger won the title after its victory against CS Constantine at Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui, with a difference of only two points, it is the first in 33 years and the second in its history.

In the following season saw the return of Tarek Hadj Adlane after five years and the contract with African champion Mahieddine Meftah and because of it a great enmity began between Allik and Mohand Chérif Hannachi, USM Alger was unable to retain its title, and in the last match against CS Constantine it happened unlike last season, where this time CS Constantine need to win to achieve the title which was happened, twenty-four years after Tahar Chérif El-Ouazzani stated that they were deprived of two championship titles because of USM Alger. in 1997 CAF Champions League USMA participated for the first time a new copy of the competition, Where they reached the group stage in the last match against Primeiro de Agosto, USM Alger won with a single goal that was not enough to qualify for the final after a major conflict with Moroccan club Raja Casablanca Which at the same time in South Africa scored the winning goal in the last minute and qualified for the final. In 1997–98 season Algerian Football Federation change league system to the groups USMA signed in the group B with strong teams such as ES Setif, JS Kabylie and MC Alger side managed to qualify for the final 3 points for JS Kabylie Then in the final against USM El Harrach at Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 USM Alger lost the title, after he advanced (2–0) 20 minutes before the end of a match to receive a full team of three goals, in the final minute USMA to get a Penalty kick it is lost by defender Mounir Zeghdoud, Younes Ifticène was held responsible for replacing the scorers for the two goals. In 1998, Bologhine stadium was renamed Omar Hamadi, a former leader of the club and revolutionary (he was sentenced to death during his country's war of independence) and who was tragically killed along with his two son at Bouzareah (Algiers) by a terrorist group in 1995.

In the CAF Cup in 1999, USM Alger arrived to the quarter-finals and eliminated against Wydad Casablanca in either National 1 1999–2000 season was the worst season since the rise of the Red and Black and finished in last place and Rabah Saâdane was dismissed from his position as coach after he had failed to achieve what was required in all competitions but in this season, there was no fall to the second division, Saïd Allik stated that it is an opportunity to inject new life into the team in order to gain control of Algerian football and to sign with several stars such as Hichem Mezaïr, Moncef Ouichaoui and Issaad Bourahli with the rise of a number of young players, also USM Alger disqualified in 2000 African Cup Winners' Cup to be punished not to participate in any African competition for one year because of the participation an ineligible of goalkeeper Burkinabé Siaka Coulibaly against JS du Ténéré. in the Algerian League Cup arrived to the semi-final round and lost to CR Belouizdad, either in the African Cup Winners Cup in 2002, USM Alger achieved a post good and arrived in the semi-final and once again defeated against Wydad Casablanca and depriving them of their first continental title.

Division 1 runners-up and three cups

Algerian Cup record, 1996–2007
Year Round 1997 Champions 1998 Round of 16 1999 Champions 2000 Round of 16 2001 Champions 2002 Round of 32 2003 Champions 2004 Champions 2005 Round of 64 2006 Runners-up 2007 Runners-up

From 1996 to 2001, Les Usmistes did not succeed in the league too. A period of drought had just won, leaving the club just the honorary title of vice-champion in 1998 and 2001. However, the data are different in Algerian Cup because the club has expanded its list with three other Algerian Cup first in 1997 in the Round of 16 in a match that was expected against CS Constantine, but CSC withdrew and did not come to the stadium Where were they accused of collusion in order for USMA to facilitate its mission in the last round match of the National 1, then the road was not easy to reach the final where faced CA Batna and won by Tarek Ghoul goal, but this victory was without joy because of what happened after the end of the game in the middle of the black decade On a Eid al-Fitr, three USMA supporters who were celebrating the Algerian Cup won by their team are murdered in a false dam at Frais Vallon.

in 1999 against JS Kabylie, the two teams met for the first time in the final of the Algerian Cup at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 and in the first final to be attended by the new president of the country Abdelaziz Bouteflika and ended with the victory of USM Alger with two goals record by Billel Dziri and the former player in JS Kabylie Tarek Hadj Adlane To be the fourth Cup of USMA, Before that in the Semi-finals against MC Alger, there was a great controversy over the way the game was played, where it was supposed to play from two games, but the Ministry of Youth and Sports decided to play the two games in Stade du 5 Juillet, Saïd Allik President of USMA, refused this insisting that each team plays in his stadium and Stade du 5 Juillet, he was the official stadium of MC Alger, after which the Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Aziz Derouaz rejected this request and insisted that he play on Stade du 5 Juillet for security reasons. On the day of the match, USM Alger went to Omar Hamadi Stadium and MC Alger and the referees to Stade du 5 Juillet. Minister of the Interior and Local Authorities at that time Abdelmalek Sellal called Allik to find a solution to this problem, His response was that there were two solutions the first is that each team plays in its stadium Or hold one game in a neutral stadium, and Allik proposes Stade du 19 Mai 1956 in Annaba, but because of the black decade and since both of them are from the capital, it was decided to hold it in Stade du 5 Juillet.

The third cup in 2001, in the Semi-finals against JSM Skikda at Stade 20 Août 1955, the match is stopped in the 46th minute due to the invasion of the field by JSM Skikda supporters Where was advanced with the goal of Azzedine Rahim, after which the FAF decided to repeat the match in a neutral stadium at Stade des Frères Brakni and ended with a 3–0 victory. in the final facing CRB Mécheria from second division which is up for the first time to the final. the only goal of the game was scored by Hocine Achiou to achieve the fifth title, The match was almost postponed by stopping for more than ten minutes due to a power outage at the beginning of the first half.

Winning the first double

Mezaïr

Aribi

Meftah

Hamdoud

Zeghdoud

Ammour

Djahnine

Dziri (C)

Achiou

Ouichaoui

Benchergui

USM Alger famous 2002/03 team

In 2002–03 It was the best season in the history of USM Alger and participated in five competitions, The opening season was in the Arab Unified Club Championship, and was eliminated in the group stage, In the Cup Winners' Cup, the red and black reached the semi-finals, and was eliminated against Wydad Casablanca and fails to achieve the first continental title despite the second leg that took place in Algeria Where did USM Alger need to win to qualify for the final. In the Division 1, the journey towards achieving the title was not easy, and the struggle was great with USM Blida, NA Hussein Dey and JS Kabylie, and USM Alger waited until the 28 round to celebrate the title after winning against ASM Oran. To complete the joy in the Algerian Cup by winning the title after the victory against CR Belouizdad after Moncef Ouichaoui scored the golden goal to achieve the double for the first time in its history under the leadership of Azzedine Aït Djoudi. also achieved Ouichaoui top scorer in the league for the first time a player from USM Alger with 18 goals including two hat-tricks, At the end of 2003 Amar Ammour won the Ballon d'or organized by El Heddaf-Le Buteur newspaper, with a big difference from his former club teammate Isâad Bourahli and Brahim Hemdani, by the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports Boudjemaâ Haïchour, the President of the Algerian Olympic Committee Mustapha Berraf and the President of the Algerian Football Federation Mohamed Raouraoua in its third edition.

Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo is the youngest player to score a hat-trick in USM Alger's first team, at 19 years old.

In the following season, USMA focused on achieving a great participation in the CAF Champions League after six years of absence and achieved a historic qualification to the semi-finals for the first time Where faced Enyimba and defeated 3–2 on aggregate, in the next edition of the same competition Mali's Mamadou Diallo won the top scorer with 10 goals for the first time player from an Algerian club Then Diallo moved to FC Nantes for 700,000 euros. the seventh Algerian Cup final was won in 2004 against JS Kabylie where USM Alger won by penalties. And since everything has an end, 2004–05 was for Usmistes the end of an era that has long been dreaming all lovers of the club. The fifth league title was won under the leadership of Mustapha Aksouh it is the last title for Saïd Allik as a president. In the last round, the struggle for survival was between CR Belouizdad and OMR El Annasser although USM Alger does not need to win, it crushed OMR El Annasser with a four, all scored by Michael Eneramo to be the youngest player to score a hat-trick in USM Alger's first team, at 19 years old. The reason why Al Ittihad played with such strength goes back to the 1993–94 season in second division, when the struggle for promoted was between ASO Chlef and USM Alger, and in the last round ASO Chlef won against OMR El Annasser it took place at Stade 20 Août 1955 and USM Alger accused them of facilitating their mission, to go up to the first division by direct match difference. In 2005 Billel Dziri won the Ballon d'or as the second player from USMA to achieve it, He said I was expecting an individual crown and now that I have it I can only say my immense joy and that the award was the fruit of the efforts Dziri made for years in Algeria or outside the country, The award was received from the hand of the World Cup champion the former French star Laurent Blanc also with a message from Zinedine Zidane.

From 2005 to 2010, the worst of Saïd Allik's period, where the team's level declined and did not achieve any title and contented itself with playing the cup final twice against traditional rivals MC Alger and was defeated in both of them, their first final defeat since 1980. His level in Africa also declined, and after that USM Alger could not qualify, contenting himself to participate in the Arab Champions League only, Al-Ittihad Most of its players retired or getting old. and continued to rely on them for more than a decade It is said that the biggest reason for this decline is the support of Saïd Allik for Ali Benflis in the presidential election against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika at the time, In the 2005–06 season USM Alger finished runners-up behind champion JS Kabylie by a single point, with three points deducted in the match against JS Kabylie in Tizi Ouzou and after the end of the first half JS Kabylie advanced with a single goal. USM Alger refused to complete the second half on the pretext of attacking the players of the team, including Billel Dziri, who said he was stabbed with a white weapon. it turned out that what looked like blood was nothing else Merbromin. During this period, the club signed several coaches including two foreigners René Lobello and Oscar Fulloné. and They did not achieve what was required of them.

Haddad ownership (2010–20)

Second professional era and Dream Team

I want to make this club the best in the country. The USMA is a great team and we will naturally have to play to win titles, that's the least. Personally, I will do my best to ensure that the club does not miss anything on a daily basis. We have many projects and we are very keen to achieve them.

— Ali Haddad a statement about his ambitions with the team.

It was decided by the Ligue de Football Professionnel and the Algerian Football Federation to professionalize the Algerian football championship, starting from the 2010–11 season Thus all the Algerian football clubs which until then enjoyed the status of semi-professional club, will acquire the professional appointment this season. the president of the Algerian Football Federation, Mohamed Raouraoua, has been speaking since his inauguration as the federation's president in Professionalism, promising a new way of management based on rigor and seriousness, especially since football has bottomed out in recent seasons, due to the catastrophic management of the clubs which could not go And were lagging behind clubs in neighboring countries that have made extraordinary progress, becoming full-fledged professional clubs, which will enable them to increase their African continent, On August 4, 2010, USM Alger went public in conjunction with the professionalization of the domestic league. Algerian businessman Ali Haddad became the majority share owner after investing 700 million Algeria dinars to buy an 83% ownership in the club to become the first professional club in Algeria. On October 27, 2010, Haddad replaced Saïd Allik as president and owner of the club. Allik had been the club's president for the past 18 years.

USM Alger Dream Team in training 2011–12 season.

The first season of professional football in Algeria it was difficult for USM Alger and is the worst since the 1999–2000 season, and Noureddine Saadi was removed from his post to be replaced by Frenchman Hervé Renard with a clause in his contract allows him to leave if he is solicited by a national selection. Al-Ittihad suffered a lot and did not achieve any victory for nearly 5 months. and waited until the last round to ensure survival after the victory against USM Annaba. In the following season Summer transfer window USMA made big deals that reached fifteen of the best players including four from ES Setif, The club has also dispensed with two of the oldest players in the club Hocine Achiou and Karim Ghazi after the coach refused to stay. On July 28, 2011 USM Alger signed a contract with American brand Nike for an indefinite period. which has the effect of greatly change the backbone of the team, USM Alger is then quickly dubbed the Dream Team by the Algerian media, particularly the newspapers.

In Ligue Professionnelle 1, USM Alger competed for the title until the last round. on April 14, 2012 in a match against MC Saïda at Stade 13 Avril 1958 Where did they need victory to stay away from relegation to Ligue Professionnelle 2 and in the last minute Nouri Ouznadji scored the equalizer. after the end of the match, while on their way to the changing rooms USM Alger players were attacked by strangers, the most dangerous of which was the assault that Abdelkader Laïfaoui was subjected with a knife that almost killed him and due to his injuries he had to receive stitches and spend the night in hospital. then decided USM Alger lifting lawsuit against unknown persons also decided not to play in Saïda for five years. On May 12, 2012 in a match against JSM Béjaïa in Bologhine and after a great drama, The meeting witnessed the players of JSM Béjaïa applauding referee Farouk Houasnia after announcing three penalties for USM Alger, which they considered an attempt to provide assistance to them especially as the victory brings them closer to the title. it ended with a 4–3 loss which was the reason for losing it. With the end of the season after six years absence USM Alger returned to the continental competitions from the gate of Confederation Cup. USMA was also invited by the Union of Arab Football Associations to compete in the UAFA Club Cup in its new version. Mohamed "Hamia" Boualem player who was expected a lot in view of his talent and to have a great future, Almost three years after last playing for USMA, Boualem has just ended his short football career. Boualem had made his last appearance in the Red and Black colors one afternoon in March 2012. It was on the 24th, during the match that had played against CS Constantine. Boualem had been substituted in the 76th minute of play and had not played again. Height of misfortune, with the multiple ailments that he frequently knew, the talented usmist was seriously injured during a training session.

Back to the honors

Team USM Alger Champion Ligue 1 2013–14 and 2013 Algerian Super Cup.

In the 2012–13 season, led by Argentine coach Miguel Angel Gamondi. The start was bad three defeats, two wins and a draw, in the sixth round against ES Setif and after the loss Gamondi was sacked from his post and replaced by former Olympique de Marseille coach Rolland Courbis as their new coach. who gave a good start and the end of the first leg with six wins, two draws and one defeat, in the return stage in the Ligue Professionnelle 1 was not a good start, and it was clear that winning the first Algerian professional league was very difficult, the start of the team focusing on the Algerian Cup and the Arab Club Champions Cup, where it was initially in the Algerian Cup in the semi-final against MC Oran. USMA achieved the most important goal through Noureddine Daham. to reach the team's final for the seventeenth time in history and the first in six years. in the Arab Club Champions Cup it was The road easy but in the semi-final against Ismaily SC, it was a difficult meeting that ended with a penalty shootout for USMA to reach the final for the first time in their history, but in the Confederation Cup, the club did not set it as an major goal and excluded from the second round after losing against US Bitam. In the Algerian Cup Final, which was held at Stade 5 Juillet 1962, the clubs of USM Alger and MC Alger will play the final match in the 92nd edition of the Algiers Derby. USM Alger defeated MC Alger with a goal scored by Benmoussa. USMA won its eighth title, Also this is the first time that Al Ittihad has won against Mouloudia in the final after four defeats before and awarded the club a place in the CAF Confederation Cup. Two weeks later, USMA won its first Arab Club Champions Cup title after defeating Kuwait’s Al-Arabi club 3-2 in aggregate in the 2012–13 UAFA Club Cup final. On 21 September 2013 Died, two supporters of USM Alger attended the events of the match against MC Alger, after the collapse of part of the Stade 5 Juillet 1962, The incident and the death of supporters Azeeb Sufyan and Saif al-Din Darhoum, and injuring several hundred others in Algiers spoiled the joy of winning the Darby supporters of USM Alger, The drama occurred ten minutes after the end of the match. Part of the 13th of the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 collapsed.

This terrible news is saddening for football in our nation and in Cameroon and arrives like a bombshell just hours after the meeting with USM Alger which was played in Tizi Ouzou. In these painful circumstances, USM Alger and its members send their deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and to JS Kabylie. May Albert Ebossé rest in peace.

— USM Alger a statement about Albert Ebossé Death.

In the 2013–14 season and after winning the Algerian Cup and the Arab Club Champions Cup last season, the goal of this season is the missed league title nine years ago. The start was not good in the first eight rounds and only won three matches, and after the victory over CRB Aïn Fakroun in the tenth round, Courbis resigned due to pressure, but one of the reasons for leaving was to return to France to coach his former club Montpellier. and he was replaced by his compatriot Hubert Velud. last season's champion with ES Setif, the start was more than wonderful, as the team did not lose in any match until the end of Season Sixteen victory, including eight consecutive and 4 draws, to win the league easily, Fourteen points behind runners-up JS Kabylie for the first time since the 2004–05 season and the first in the era of professionalism. also returned again to the CAF Champions League and for the first time since 2007, USM Alger in the mid-season won Super Cup title against 2012–13 Ligue 1 champions ES Sétif for the first time at Mustafa Chakar Stadium.

On December 21, 2013 in Algerian Cup USM Alger was eliminated at the hands of JS Kabylie, first loss against them in this competition and lose Title achieved last season, To end the season with two titles as the last season, the beginning of the 2014–15 season were not good where USM Alger was defeated at the opening of the season against MC Alger in the Super Cup after the piece and in the defense of the league title trip initially were not good, On 23 August 2014, It witnessed the Clasico kabylo-algérois where it ended in a 2–1 victory and Youcef Belaïli's goal in the last minutes, But after the end of the match and while the players went to the changing rooms, JS Kabylie player Albert Ebossé Bodjongo was struck on the head by a projectile thrown by an unknown person while the teams were leaving the field, Bodjongo died a few hours later in hospital of a traumatic brain injury. He was aged 24. After a series of fluctuating results and from 15 matches he won in only five all of them in a row, USM Alger decided to dismiss Velud, although his career was successful during which he achieved two titles in a year and a half. He was replaced by German manager Otto Pfister. But the results were not good eight meetings without a win with the exclusion of the Algerian Cup against ASO Chlef. last hope to end the season with title at least, less than three months after the appointed Pfister was sacked as coach of USM Alger. to take over all of Zeghdoud and Meftah temporarily to the end of the season the team to ensure survival in the final round after win against ASO Chlef.

Nacereddine Khoualed played for 11 years and was captain of the club from 2010 to 2016.

Champions League final for the first time

Summer 2015, Miloud Hamdi officially USMA coach for three seasons. Although the ambition was not great Hamdi led them to glory in the Champions League, where USM Alger ended the group stage in first place, to face in the semi-final Al Hilal realizing the surprise by defeating him in Sudan, and satisfied with a draw in Bologhine to qualify for the first time in its history to the final of a continental competition. where they faced TP Mazembe but was defeated Back and forth, 4–1 in aggregate. There was a great deal of controversy about the stadium hosting the final between Stade du 5 Juillet and Omar Hamadi Stadium, but managers, technical staff and players preferred the second option, which is something that the supporters did not like because it is small and it is not enough for the fans especially since it is a historical final and with artificial grass. Youcef Belaïli is suspended by Confederation of African Football for 2 years for having tested positive for Cocaine during an anti-doping control carried out during the match against MC El Eulma on August 7, 2015 counting for the CAF Champions League. He admits the facts, Bellaili is tested a second time positive for doping after consuming a prohibited product (Cocaine), during his team's match against CS Constantine counting for the fifth round of the Ligue Professionnelle 1, played on September 19, 2015 in Constantine. A four-year suspension is imposed on him, his contract with USM Alger is terminated in the wake. On the other hand, in the league, it achieved the title for the seventh time in its history and the second in the professional era. USM Alger achieved a very strong start and was not defeated in seventeen consecutive meetings, including seven consecutive victories, and in the second stage, the club’s level decreased in a limited way, especially with its end and defeat against RC Relizane and JS Saoura then tied him in the Algiers Derby. Where did the players face great criticism, especially as the supporters wanted to celebrate the title against the traditional opponent, in the 27th round and after winning against ASM Oran among the teammates of the captain Khoualed the title, and in the 29th round against DRB Tadjenanet celebrated players, the managers, crew members technical and supporters the shield championship. Algerian Champion for the seventh time last season, it's a USM Alger "new look" who will defend his title, Then in the final of the Super Cup, led by interim coach Mustapha Aksouh achieves title after beating city rivals MC Alger.

On November 5 in the first meeting of the new coach Paul Put was defeated in the Match derby against USM El Harrach after which the team did not achieve positive away from home results with the end of the first leg where the team without a win outside Algiers, USM Alger lost the opportunity to defend their title last season and in the 28th round. Despite their big win against USM Bel-Abbès, they lost the title officially after ES Setif against MO Béjaïa. the last match in the Ligue Professionnelle 1 was against JS Saoura and ended with a big victory for them and Oussama Darfalou scored the first hat-trick of USM Alger since three and a half years to finish the season in third place, the match saw the return of captain Nacereddine Khoualed after an absence of seven months due to injury. In the group stage of the CAF Champions League, in the final round against CAPS United and more than 50,000 spectators, the team needed to win to secure the lead and had a heavy 4–1 lead. then, in the 80th minute, the stadium witnessed a wonderful atmosphere in the stands to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the team in the presence of former stars in the team they are, Bengana, Mansouri, Abdouche, Mouassi, Lalili, Hadj Adlane, Ghoul, Achiou, Dziri, Rahim, and including former coach Noureddine Saadi, former President Saïd Allik and leaders of Algeria's National Liberation Front during Algerian War of Independence, Saadi Yacef who is in the same time former president of the club. the joy was completed by qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Carolus Andriamatsinoro The most foreign player played with USM Alger with 132 games, Leaving the club after five years with them.

In the semi-final against the neighboring WAC Casablanca, it took place in a brotherly atmosphere especially since both were founded in the same year 1937, and despite the tense diplomatic relations between the two countries but the supporters of the two teams were on time. The supporters of Wydad were received in Algeria free tickets to the stadium and the same was done by WAC Casablanca in the second leg match. Then USM Alger returns to competition in the Ligue 1 and in the first match against USM El Harrach players and the coach was subjected to verbal abuse and yellowing by fans and in the second half the players refused to return because of scolding their mothers but were persuaded to complete the game despite the win, the players went under the whistle again and then in the derby against CR Belouizdad, the team managed to achieve a great victory 4–0, but in the games against the leaders CS Constantine and in the home lost 2–1 after the defeat, the difference becomes 12 points with three games postponed to announce after the end of the match, the coach Paul Put for his resignation put said he took all responsibility for the setbacks and said he had a great honor working with the team as he explained that today's (Means against CS Constantine) players did not put their feet in the ground and other things.

Abdelhakim Serrar general manager

Just a day after the resignation of Paul Put, USM Alger administration contracted with the Franco Algerien coach Miloud Hamdi until the end of the season and had already coach the team in 2015–16 and led him to win the Ligue 1 and to the final of the CAF Champions League. The start was very good for the new coach where in the last seven games of the first phase he won four, three of them outside the home and drawn in two and was lost in one match but with the start of the second phase returned bad results again, especially inside the home and the number of points lost by the USM Alger in his stadium until round 21, 18 points to lose the opportunity to compete for the title after the difference became ten points from the leader to move the eyes of the team towards the Algerian cup but ended the experience in the Round of 16 to go out for the second season without a title, Immediately after the Algiers Derby and draw 2–2. on 28 February 2018 Ali Haddad he changed his brother Rabouh from a post general manager by former international player and former ES Setif president Abdelhakim Serrar. After the loss of the derby against CR Belouizdad, the new general manager decided, after agreeing with coach Hamdi, to end his work with the team at the end of the season. on April 3, Serrar moved to Morocco and agreed with Baddou Zaki to be the new coach starting next season. However, on April 12, Zaki said he would not coach USM Alger because of disagreement over some of the terms of the contract. At the end of the season Oussama Darfalou was crowned the league's top scorer with 18 goals as the second player of USM Alger achieves this award after the first in 2003. On April 4, 2018 the goalkeeper of the reserve team (U21) Abderrahmane Bouyermane died following a Cardiac arrest, announced on its official website. The 20-year-old suddenly collapsed on the pitch while warming up for practice.

With the end of the season the team started looking for a new coach and the squad saw the departure of many players, most notably Ayoub Abdellaoui, who joined the Swiss club FC Sion. and striker Oussama Darfalou, who joined Dutch club Vitesse. finally, after a month of research, the team contracted with French technical Thierry Froger to be the new coach. This season USM Alger is competing on four fronts, The first goals was to win the Confederation Cup, but they are eliminated in the quarter-finals against the Egyptian club Al-Masry. The Confederation of African Football required the club to choose between Stade Omar Oucief, Ahmed Zabana Stadium in Oran, Stade 8 Mai 1945 in Sétif as well as Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui in Constantine faced with the non-approval of Omar Hamadi Stadium, the choice of the management went to Sétif for several reasons, including the proximity of the city to Algiers, which will allow supporters to be able to travel in droves, especially since a great relationship of brotherhood animates the Usmiste and Setifian galleries which have always supported each other in international competitions. Then in the Arab Club Champions Cup was the ambition to win, especially that the value of financial prizes exceed 15 million dollars. more than the CAF Champions League, but the march of The Reds and Blacks stopped in the second round against the Sudanese Al-Merrikh 4–3 on aggregate. before that in a match agianst Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya at Omar Hamadi Stadium and in the 70th minute withdrawal of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya's players in protest at offensive chants from spectators. after mentioning the name of the former president Saddam Hussein and anti-Shia slogans angering Baghdad, The Iraqi ministry of foreign affairs summoned Algeria's ambassador in Baghdad over "sectarian chants" made by Algerian fans Ahmed Mahjoub, Iraq's foreign affairs spokesperson, said Baghdad had expressed "the government and the people of Iraq's indignation... at the glorification of the horrible face of Saddam Hussein's deadly dictatorial regime", which was toppled in 2003 during the United States' invasion of Iraq. later, general manager Abdelhakim Serrar said that the concerns of fans if bothered the Iraqi team, I offer my apologies. The goalkeeper and captain Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche also apologized to the Iraqi delegation for the conduct of the supporters.

The season was tough on all counts and I took my responsibilities to the end. Now it's time for me to pull out and officially announce it: I will not be the CEO of USMA next year.

— Abdelhakim Serrar a statement about his resignation.

Then moved USM Alger's attention to the Ligue 1 Leader in the standings, USMA ensures at the same time to finish first at the end of the first phase of the championship Followed by JS Kabylie. after the outbreak of protests in Algeria and the arrest of club owner Ali Haddad on corruption charges. affected the results of USM Alger where he was defeated in three consecutive games, all Darby matches against Paradou AC, MC Alger and CR Belouizdad to shrink the difference to one point from the runner-up four games before the end of the season. On April 30, 2019 The board of the SSPA USMA met and noted the vacancy of the post of president of the company since the incarceration of Ali Haddad there is nearly a month. It was Boualem Chendri who was unanimously elected to succeed him while ETRHB Haddad remains the majority shareholder of the club. On May 26, 2019 And after the victory outside the home against CS Constantine 3–1 achieved the eighth Ligue 1 title, one point behind JS Kabylie. immediately after the end of the game Abdelhakim Serrar announced his resignation from his office.

The end of the Haddad era

On June 2, 2019 it is official, the Haddad family is selling its shares in SSPA USMA which it holds 92%, It was the club's communication officer, Amine Tirmane, who announced it on the Echourouk TV. the reasons that made them make this decision is the imprisonment of club owner Ali Haddad and also freeze all financial accounts of the club. On June 10, 2019 Several sports figures and former leaders linked to the USM Alger have set up a rescue committee to provide solutions to the many problems facing the club of Algiers. also Many club elders answered the call, they were more than twenty Tarek Hadj Adlane, Karim Ghazi, Hocine Achiou and Hocine Metref Also, the Haddad family is looking to sell its shares in SSPA. On June 24, 2019 USM Alger signed with Billel Dziri to be the new coach, the former USM Alger star gave him the power to choose the staff to work with them. On August 4, 2019 Al-Hayat Petroleum Company decided to pay the cost of travel to Niger in order to play the Preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, the same company that wants to buy the majority of the shares of the club. On September 4, 2019 The players of USM Alger decided to go on strike to protest difficult financial situation They stressed that this decision has nothing to do with the administration, the fans or the club itself. It is a protest movement against the state of the USM Alger and the delay in resolving the crisis, As a reminder, the USM Alger players have not received their salaries for 6 months, while the new ones have not received any salary since joining the club.

Algerian businessman Ali Haddad owner and president of club USM Alger from 2010 until 2019.

On October 13, 2019 The players decided to boycott the training and official matches because they have not been paid for five months, two days after Amine Tirmane club's communication officer He submitted his resignation on the channel Dzaïr TV, a day later a fan paid the amount of 500,000 dinars per player reward win against Gor Mahia and AS Aïn M'lila, The players then decide to return to training and play CA Bordj Bou Arreridj match on October 23. After a protest in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Youth and Sports against the difficult situation, Minister Raouf Salim Bernaoui said to supporters of the club They have to be patient. On October 19, 2019 Nearly 5,000 supporters of USM Alger went out to The headquarters of the Wilaya of Algiers to protest against the club's difficult financial situation and free it from ETRHB Haddad Company. A day after Mounir D'bichi said to France 24 that Al-Hayat Petroleum is a subsidiary of ETRHB Haddad which also said that the team's debts amount to 1 billion dinar about 8 million euros. D'bichi said ETRHB Haddad had provided 400 billion centimes since its arrival about 23 million euros.

On October 22, 2019 Oussama Chita resumed training with his teammates after a long absence due to a serious injury contracted by the Algerian international last season at the knee. On October 29, 2019 The leaders of USM Alger have announced in a statement that the sponsorship deal with Kia Al Djazair will be terminated amicably and the club will recover all outstanding debts that are valued at nearly 20 billion centimes (1.4 million €) In addition, the contract with Ifri will not be renewed either by decision of the company. On November 5, the administration of USM Alger signed Sponsor contract with Serport specialized in port services for 16 billion centimes about 1.2 million euros. The administration of USM Alger to regain its right in the Darby case, appealed the arbitration decision issued by the Algerian Court for the settlement of sports disputes in case No. 92/19 between Union sportive de la médina d'Alger against the Algerian Football Federation and the Professional Football Association. This was the receipt of the receipt of the appeal from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne on 8 January 2020 and the team paid the costs of registering the case with an amount of one thousand euros (1000 €) on the morning of 9 January 2020. In the group stage meeting in CAF Champions League, Wydad Casablanca’s captain Brahim Nekkach presented a special gift to Zemmamouche, which was a document dating back 77 years, which is a letter that Union Sportive Musulmane Algéroise had addressed to Wydad Casablanca in 1943 inviting him to participate in a friendly tournament in Algeria and confronting him.

Groupe SERPORT New Owner (2020–)

New era and new management

Goalkeeper Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche the first USM Alger player to reach the 400th match, after the last round match of the 2020–21 season against JSM Skikda.

After it was expected that the general assembly of shareholders will be on March 12, 2020 it was submitted to March 2, especially after the imprisonment of the former club president, Rabouh Haddad. The meeting witnessed the attendance of ETRHB Haddad representative and the absence of the amateur club president Saïd Allik, and after two and a half hours, it was announced that Groupe SERPORT had bought the shares of ETRHB Haddad which amounted to 94.34%. in a press conference Halim Hammoudi, Secretary General of SERPORT announced that Aïn Benian project and the club headquarters will be launched soon. He also said that the goal is to achieve continental titles, not only local ones. Previously Achour Djelloul general manager of SERPORT, said they would invest between 1,2 and 1,3 billion dinar per year, while the training center project will cost 1,4 billion dinar. On May 13, 2020 Achour Djelloul announced that he signed with Antar Yahia to be the new Sporting director for three years and Abdelghani Haddi as a new general manager. Yahia said that he had offers from France, but he preferred the Reds and Blacks project, especially the ideas he wanted to implement are the same as Achour Djelloul. On July 31, Abdelghani Haddi spoke about some newspapers and responded to them and the fake news about the value of buying USM Alger's shares, where he said that the amount was 2 billion dinars about 13 million euros, for information SERPORT is a holding company which manages the State's holdings in Algerian port services. It generates a turnover of nearly 500 million euros per year, for a net profit which oscillates between 25 and 40 million euros. On July 20, FIFA prohibiting USM Alger from any recruitment of Algerian or foreign players during the next three transfer window until the payment of 200,000 euros to the former player Prince Ibara. The next day General Manager Abdelghani Haddi spoke about this problem, and also the problem of the former player Mohamed Yekhlef and the Derby case, Where did Haddi say that he asked the Algerian Football Federation to pay Ibara's money from 2019–20 CAF Champions League prize money.

On August 28, USM Alger would have won their Darby case against the Algerian Football Federation and the Ligue de Football Professionnel after postponing several times the final decision was return of the three points and replay the match, and makes the LFP and FAF bear all the costs incurred by the arbitration procedure. On October 30, Groupe SERPORT decided to merge the position of Sports Director and General Manager and Achour Djelloul give all powers to Antar Yahia he said "We want to avoid mixing things up", due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria, the Algerian Super Cup has become threatened with cancellation On October 4, The Federal Bureau decided that the final play before the start of the 2020–21 season. After losing the Super Cup final, USM Alger decided to dismiss François Ciccolini from his post because he did not rise to the podium to receive the medal, which was considered an insult to an official body Where was the Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad present. société sportive par actions (SSPA) and club sportif amateur (CSA) signed a partnership agreement on January 31, 2021, this agreement that allows the two parties to comply with Algerian legislative texts, and the amateur club will receive 30 million dinars annually in exchange for carrying the logo and name of the club. On April 1, USM Alger gets a makeover, the official website of the Italian equipment manufacturer "Kappa" has unveiled the new jerseys that the Usmists will wear this year 2021, This new Kappa jersey is dressed in a dominant white and black, and uses the graphics of the Casbah of Algiers with shades of gray on the front of the jersey. For reasons of comfort and aesthetics, a semi-open round neck is present, just like the iconic Banda Kappa on the shoulders. four rounds before the end of the season SERPORT decided to dismiss Antar Yahia from his position, Yahia said that all powers were removed and they agreed with a new sports director a while ago.

Hocine Achiou general manager

Achour Djelloul spoke on Channel 3 and made revelations about it, that was is first and foremost the relationship between an employer and an employee. Add to that Yahia was punished twice by the Disciplinary Committee, and for this we preferred to separate ourselves from this employee. and On September 1, 2021 USM Alger signed with the former player Hocine Achiou to be the new sporting director. In 2020–21 season witnessed the death of the former player of the sixties Hamid Bernaoui as well as Kamel Tchalabi who played with the club in the seventies and the former coach on four occasions Noureddine Saâdi and led them to win two titles, the last two due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria. On September 10, 2021 Saadi Yacef passed away at the age of 93, who was one of the leaders of Algeria's National Liberation Front during his country's war of independence, president of the club in the seventies and honorary president.

External links

Official websites

• Site officiel
• USM Alger at FIFA