France: Walid Mesloub makes a leap forward at Lens!

Oct 8, 2026

While his son shines in the first team, former Algerian international Walid Mesloub is enjoying a successful rise at RC Lens.

For the past few months, the spotlight has been on Mezian Soares Mesloub, 16, who is making waves with the Sang et Or and is also an international for the Portuguese youth team, which Algeria is keen to recruit, given his father's roots.

However, the father is also making strides in his professional career. At 41, he has been promoted after the departure of head coach Dino Toppmoller, having served as the assistant coach for the RC Lens reserve team for five years.

A few weeks ago, there was talk of Walid Mesloub potentially becoming the assistant coach in Ligue 1 with the appointment of Yannck Cahuzac, but it was ultimately another member of the reserve team, Vincent Carler, who was chosen.

This game of musical chairs allows the Algerian to become the head coach of the club's youth academy in northern France. Interestingly, Mesloub has never had the chance to coach his son Mezian, who jumped straight from the U17s to the first team!

DZfoot