Paradou Athletic Club (), known as Paradou AC or simply PAC for short, is an Algerian football club based in Algiers. The club was founded in 1994 by members of the Hydra AC junior team, the club colours are blue and yellow. Their home stadium, Ahmed Fellak Stadium, has a capacity of some 5,000 spectators but the club receives its opponents in Omar Benrabah Stadium. The club is currently playing in the Algerian League 2.
In May 2017, Paradou AC returned to the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1 after a 10 years absence.
History The idea of establishing the Paradou Athletic Club (PAC) emerged from a group of friends who wanted to create a space where young people could meet and participate in recreational activities, particularly after their school studies. After several discussions and proposals, the group decided to establish a football club and chose the name Paradou Athletic Club, commonly abbreviated as PAC. The club's colours, yellow and blue, were reportedly chosen in an anecdotal manner. Several colour combinations had been proposed without reaching consensus. During one of the discussions, the founders noticed the Swedish ambassador passing by in a vehicle displaying the Swedish flag, which inspired them to adopt its colours.
A first meeting of the founding members was held at the Colomba restaurant. Those present included Mahi Ali, Mahi Mohamed, Kabla Kamel, Kabla Rezki, Kheiredine Zetchi, Oudghiri Ahmed, Mahi Abdelfettah, Zetchi Hassen, Kabla Toufik, Hammouche Abdennour, Chitour Omar, Oudghiri Rafik, Guecem Kamel and Bouhellal Kamel. Several other individuals who contributed to the creation of the club also participated in the meeting. The club's first sporting campaign began in September 1994 with a Wilaya Cup match at the Ben Aknoun Stadium, where Paradou AC recorded a 3–2 victory. The club subsequently completed the administrative procedures required for official recognition. Its approval document was issued on 16 August 1994 under number 359. Following its approval, the club's management established senior and youth teams and made player development one of its principal objectives.
From its first competitive season in 1994–95, Paradou AC progressed through the Algerian football pyramid. The club eventually reached the top division, Ligue 1, in 2005. After three seasons in the Division Nationale Amateur (DNA), Paradou AC returned to the professional ranks in Ligue 2, before establishing itself among Algeria's leading clubs. The club's youth-development programme also produced several players who went on to play for other prominent Algerian clubs, including Lamouri Djediat, Mokhtar Benmoussa, Hocine El Orfi, Saad Tedjar, Billel Ouali and Hichem Nekkache.
On 21 May 2026, Paradou AC were relegated to Algerian League 2 after 9 years in the top division.
Honours Domestic competitions Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 2 Champion (1): 2016–17
Players
Algerian teams are limited to four foreign players. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player;
Current squad
Personnel Current technical staff
Position Staff Head coach Amar Guerbi Assistant coach Anis Zoubar Goalkeeping coach Kouçaï Benmakhlouf Fitness coach
Paradou AC/JMG "El Ankaoui" Academy In 2007, Paradou AC launched their academy in a partnership with JMG Academy, run by Frenchman Jean-Marc Guillou. The cost of the academy is estimated to be about €600 000 over 7 years, including the purchase of land at a site in Tessala El Merdja (in the outskirts of Alger), and construction of housing and facilities for the players and staff. The current team is made up of players aged 13 to 15 years old, and they have regularly beaten much older teams, while playing without shoes or a goalie. The team is coached by Olivier Guillou and Djamel Aïch.
Players from Paradou AC to Europe Player Club League Transfer fee Source Hicham Boudaoui MF Nice Ligue 1 €4,000,000 Youcef Atal DF KV Kortrijk Belgian First Division A €550,000 Farid El Mellali FW Angers Ligue 1 Free transfer Ramy Bensebaini DF Rennes Ligue 1 €2,000,000 Adem Zorgane MF Charleroi Belgian First Division A €1,000,000 Abdelkahar Kadri MF Kortrijk Belgian First Division A €500,000 Ahmed Nadhir Benbouali FW Charleroi Belgian First Division A €750,000 Yassine Titraoui MF Charleroi Belgian First Division A €1,200,000
Players from Paradou AC to other countries Player Club League Transfer fee Source Raouf Benguit MF Espérance ST Ligue Professionnelle 1 742,000 $
List of Paradou AC international footballers Players + Key Players participated in the African Cup of NationsGKGoalkeeperDFDefenderMFMidfielderFWForwardBoldStill playing competitive football
Paradou AC international footballers NamePositionDate of first capDebut againstDate of last capFinal matchagainstCaps Ref Youcef Atal DF 2 Hicham Boudaoui MF 5 Farid El Melali FW 2 Allan Okello FW 6 Haithem Loucif DF 2 Zakaria Naidji FW 1 FW 0 FW 0 FW 0 FW 0 FW 0 FW 0
Notes
References
External links