ALGIERS, July 20- Former Lorient coach Christian Gourcuff has succeeded Vahid Halilhodzic as coach of Algeria, the Algerian football federation has announced.

Gourcuff has been handed a contract leading up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a more immediate target the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Over more than 25 years in management Gourcuff has coached Lorient on three separate occasions.

Halilhodzic stood down after leading Algeria to the last 16 at the World Cup for the first time. The Bosnian has taken up a job with Turkish side Trabzonspor.