Noureddine Maamria

Doncaster Rovers Following his departure from Ayr, Maamria signed for Football Conference club Doncaster Rovers in August 1998, making his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Dover Athletic on 15 August 1998. In March 2000, he was placed on the transfer list, attracting interest from Cardiff City and Kingstonian, with Cardiff making a formal bid that did not result in a move.

Southport and Leigh RMI Maamria joined Football Conference club Southport in July 2000. He made his first appearance as a 65th-minute substitute in a 1–0 away win against Chester City on 2 September 2000, and scored his first goal a week later in a 3–0 victory over Telford United.

Ahead of the 2001–02 season, Maamria signed a two-year contract with fellow Football Conference club Leigh RMI after scoring three goals in pre-season. Alongside his playing role, he held a coaching position at Burnley. During the campaign, he received the first red card of his career, for violent conduct in stoppage time in a match against Nuneaton Borough on 9 March 2002. At the start of the following season, he scored his first professional hat-trick in a 4–2 home victory over Burton Albion on 24 August 2002, and went on to score 13 goals in 27 appearances, including another hat-trick against Barnet. A fee was agreed with Leigh RMI, but Maamria initially rejected the move following negotiations. He made his debut the following day in a 2–2 draw with Hereford United and scored his first goals for the club with a brace in a 2–0 away victory against local rivals Barnet on 1 March 2003. He made 11 appearances and scored five goals as Stevenage moved from the relegation zone to finish 12th. At the end of the season, Maamria joined Charleston Battery in the USL A-League, making nine appearances without scoring, before returning to Stevenage in September 2003 after receiving international clearance. Maamria scored both of Stevenage's goals in their 2–1 aggregate victory over Hereford United in the play-off semi-finals, and played in the 1–0 defeat to Carlisle United in the final. He was later deployed in central midfield, In December 2006, Rushden & Diamonds manager Graham Westley sought to make him his first signing, offering him a player-coach role, although Southport stated they had not received an official approach. Southport indicated they would require an improved offer, while Maamria expressed a desire to join Rushden to further his coaching career under Westley. He signed a one-and-a-half year contract with Rushden on 31 January 2007, scoring once in four appearances before returning to Southport on loan in March 2007 following Westley's dismissal. His contract at Rushden was cancelled by mutual consent in May 2007.

He signed for Conference Premier club Northwich Victoria on 10 August 2007, making 11 appearances during the opening two months of the 2007–08 season before being appointed caretaker manager in October 2007, after which he did not play for the club again. During the 2008–09 season, while serving as first-team coach at Stevenage, he was registered as a player due to limited squad availability and helped the club win its first Herts Senior Cup in April 2009, scoring twice in a 2–1 victory over Cheshunt in the final. Later that month, he made a brief substitute appearance in a 1–0 victory over Ebbsfleet United, his final professional match. He was an unused substitute in the 2009 FA Trophy final and was assigned a first-team squad number in both the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons.

International career Maamria made one appearance for the Tunisia under-21 team in 1991.

Northwich Victoria While playing for Conference Premier club Northwich Victoria at the age of 36, Maamria was appointed caretaker manager in October 2007. At the time, Northwich were bottom of the league, having lost 15 of their opening 17 matches and drawn the other two, leaving them 15 points adrift of safety, and they had also entered administration. Following a change of ownership on 11 December 2007, Maamria was confirmed as permanent manager. Under his management, Northwich won six of 11 matches and went on an eight-match unbeaten run in March 2008. Maamria was subsequently named Conference Manager of the Year for the 2007–08 season.

He remained in charge at the start of the 2008–09 season, but Northwich lost seven out of their opening ten matches. and was dismissed on 23 October 2008 following an internal investigation.

Coaching spells Maamria rejoined former club Stevenage Borough in November 2008 as first-team coach under manager Graham Westley, who had previously signed him during his playing career. Maamria's appointment, alongside several new additions including Roberts and Jon Ashton, coincided with a club-record 24-match unbeaten run between December 2008 and April 2009. Stevenage won the FA Trophy that season, The following year, the club achieved successive promotions by winning the League Two play-offs.

In January 2012, Maamria joined League One club Preston North End as first-team coach following Westley's appointment as manager. He left the club in February 2013 after Westley was dismissed. The following month, Maamria returned to Stevenage as assistant manager during Westley's third spell in charge. Stevenage reached the League Two play-offs in the 2014–15 season, losing in the semi-finals. He departed the club alongside Westley shortly after, when Teddy Sheringham was appointed manager. In 2015, Maamria obtained his UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification. He returned having played for the club during three separate spells and having previously been offered the managerial position in 2006. Under Maamria's management, the club won eight out of their next 10 matches, including a nine-match unbeaten run, He left the club on 14 March 2016, citing family and travel reasons,

Nuneaton Town Maamria was appointed as assistant manager to Westley at League Two club Newport County on 10 October 2016. He left the club when Westley was dismissed on 9 March 2017. After leaving Newport, Maamria stated he had received several opportunities to return to football but was waiting for the right role. He was appointed manager of National League North club Nuneaton Town on 28 October 2017. Maamria noted the need to manage expectations and identified the defence as an area in need of improvement. A 2–1 win over promotion-chasing Harrogate Town on 9 January 2018 began a 10-match unbeaten run, during which the team conceded six goals. By the time of Maamria's departure to Stevenage in March 2018, Nuneaton had moved to within five points of the play-off positions. Maamria was appointed as manager of League Two club Stevenage on 20 March 2018. He became the only African manager in professional English football at the time. He recorded his first win as manager with a 4–1 home victory over local rivals Barnet on 2 April 2018. Stevenage were inconsistent for much of the 2018–19 season but won five of their final six league matches to finish 10th, missing out on a play-off place by one point. The 2019–20 season began with seven league matches without a win, and Maamria was dismissed on 9 September 2019.

Oldham Athletic In September 2019, Maamria was named as head coach of League Two club Oldham Athletic on a two-year contract on 19 September 2019. Having won nine of his 32 matches in an inconsistent season, Oldham were in 19th position when the League Two season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. He was dismissed on 31 July 2020. At the time, Burton were bottom of the league table, having won two matches during the first half of the 2020–21 season. The club won nine of their next 12 league matches, including a six-match winning run between February and March 2021, and finished 16th. Hasselbaink resigned on 5 September 2022 with the club winless in their opening seven matches to start the 2022–23 season, citing limitations in the club's resources. Maamria was initially placed in caretaker charge before being appointed permanent manager the following day. finishing 15th, but he was dismissed on 9 December 2023 following a six-game winless run.

After leaving Burton, Maamria stated that he had declined several opportunities to return to management. He noted his reputation for stabilising struggling teams, but indicated that he wished his next managerial role to be a longer-term project. At the time of his appointment, the club were in 22nd position, three points above the relegation zone. He was dismissed a month later, on 11 March 2026, after one win in six matches. During his tenure, Barrow lost three matches after conceding in the 89th minute or later.

Style of play Maamria began his career in an attacking midfield role in Tunisia, and was initially deployed as a winger upon moving to England, including during his first season at Doncaster Rovers.

Career statistics

Managerial statistics

Honours Player AS Marsa Tunisian President Cup: 1993–94

Stevenage FA Trophy: 2008–09

Manager Individual Conference Premier Manager of the Year: 2007–08