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Renard returns to Côte d'Ivoire role
The Frenchman takes on his third national team role of 2026, following recent spells with Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 25: Herve Renard, Head Coach of Tunisia, arrives before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Tunisia and Netherlands at Kansas City Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Herve Renard has returned to the Côte d'Ivoire hot seat for a second time following the departure of Emerse Fae.
The 57-year-old led The Elephants to their second Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, before departing for Lille later that year.
Renard had been in charge of Saudi Arabia and qualified the Asian nation for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, but was dismissed less than two months before the tournament began. He was the parachuted into the finals to take over from Sabri Lamouchi with Tunisia following their opening loss to Sweden, but couldn't prevent further defeats to Japan and the Netherlands.
"This appointment reflects the Federation's desire to consolidate the achievements of the senior national team in recent years, while pursuing the ambitions set for Ivorian football on both the African and international stages," a statement from the Ivorian Football Federation read.
"An African champion with Côte d'Ivoire in 2015, Mr Herve Renard returns to lead the Elephants with the mission of guiding the national team through preparations for and participation in upcoming international competitions.
"Drawing on his experience in elite football, his knowledge of the African game, and his attachment to Ivorian football, he will be responsible for maintaining the senior national team's performance momentum, working in close collaboration with the Federation's governing bodies and technical structures."
Renard has enjoyed a well-travelled and successful coaching career. He had spells in France, China, Vietnam and England before stepping into the international scene with Zambia, who he led to a maiden AFCON title in 2012. Three years later he became the first coach to win the continental title with two nations after taking Côte d'Ivoire to a final triumph over Ghana. Renard has also coached Angola, Morocco and the France women's national side.
His first task as Côte d'Ivoire boss will be to qualify the nation for the 2027 AFCON which will take place across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June to July, before attentions turn to the qualifying campaign for FIFA World Cup 2030™.