Herve Renard, the former Black Star’s coach has resigned as head coach of Saudi Arabia’s men’s team and is set to lead France at the Women’s World Cup this season.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) disclosed that Herve Renard, 54, requested his contract be terminated.
His latest appointment means that he will replace Corinne Diacre, who was sacked after several key players said they would no longer represent their country under her leadership. The Women’s World Cup will take place from 20 July to 20 August.
“[Renard] has an offer from the French Federation and expressed his desire to take this opportunity,” SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal told the media while announcing Renard’s departure. “We were informed four days before the current international window and I received a letter from the French Federation, and consulted with the board of directors and we decided to accept this request.”
The Frenchman took charge of Saudi Arabia in July 2019 and guided them to their second successive World Cup finals, where they shocked eventual champions Argentina with a 2-1 win in Qatar last year.
After a friendly loss to Bolivia on Tuesday, Renard – who has never managed a women’s team – told reporters, “I would like to thank everybody in Saudi for their support during almost four years. I think I did the maximum with the team. I can’t reach another level so I prefer to be honest with everybody. Thank you again, it was a fantastic time.”
Renard has won the Africa Cup of Nations as head coach with both Zambia and Ivory Coast – the first person to lead different countries to the AFCON title.
France women teaam, who are ranked fifth in the world, are seeking to win their first World Cup this summer and the French Football Federation will hope the players who boycotted playing for the national team under Diacre will make a return.
Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto criticised the French “system” as they stepped back from international duty.
Ex-captain Renard said she was taking a step back from the team “to preserve [her] mental health” and Diani claimed the “management” of the team was the reason behind her decision.
Renard, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and with Ivory Coast three years later – the first person to lead different countries to the AFCON title, was approached by the Ghana Football Association as they sought a replacement for Charles Akonnor, who was sacked in September 2021, but he was not interested.
Frenchman Renard is no stranger to the Black Stars, having also served as an assistant to veteran compatriot Claude Le Roy when he led Ghana to third place at the 2008 Afcon which the West African country hosted.
Renard is well versed with African football following his two stints with Zambia and also coached Angola before taking over the Ivorians, whom he led to the continental title in 2015, to become the first coach to win two Afcons with different countries.
Following a short stint in club management with Ligue 1 side Lille in 2015, he returned to Africa to take over as Morocco coach in October 2016, taking the Atlas Lions to the 2018 World Cup in Russia as well as the 2019 Afcon in Egypt.
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