Former Algeria forward Djamel Menad has died aged 64 following a short illness, his ex-club JS Kabylie announced on Saturday.
"The wider Algerian football family and JS Kabylie are in mourning following the announcement of the death of Djamel Menad, a former player and true legend of football in the country," JS Kabylie wrote on social media.
"In recent weeks, the health of the former centre-forward of the Algerian national team had deteriorated rapidly as a result of a devastating illness that struck him around two months ago," indicated news website TSA.
Menad died in a clinic in Algiers where he had been hospitalised on March 14, after returning from Brussels where he had been receiving treatment for a month, reported Algerian football media DZfoot.
Condoléances
— JS Kabylie (@jsk_tweet) March 22, 2025
La grande famille du football algérien et de la JS Kabylie est en deuil après l’annonce du décès de Djamel Menad, ancien joueur et véritable légende du football national.
Nous adressons nos plus sincères condoléances à sa famille, à ses proches, ainsi qu’à toute… pic.twitter.com/d6rc4Rhxrw
Born on July 22, 1960 in the town of El Bayadh, Menad represented his country 79 times, scoring 25 goals, over a 15-year international career.
Menad's efforts in helping Algeria reach the 1986 World Cup in Mexico resulted in him being named Algerian sportsman of the year in 1985.
He was notably top scorer at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, with four goals in five appearances as Algeria claimed the trophy on home soil.
🕊️🇩🇿 Véritable légende du football algérien, Djamel Menad, ancien attaquant des Fennecs et de la JS Kabylie, est décédé à l'âge de 64 ans des suites d'une maladie foudroyante, a annoncé son ancien club.https://t.co/Pn8RGRRgYf pic.twitter.com/akQ19911fg
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) March 22, 2025
Over his club career, Menad played for Algerian sides JS Kabylie, CR Belouizdad and USM Alger. He also played in Europe for French club Nimes, as well as Portuguese sides Famalicao and Belenenses.
Menad moved into coaching after his playing career and was most recently sporting director at JS Kabylie.