Herve Renard quits Saudi Arabia, set sights on France job

Two-time AFCON winner Herve Renard has resigned from his role as Saudi Arabia's head coach and is set to become the next coach of France's Women's National Team. 

The 54-year-old is a seasoned national team manager, and his Saudi Arabia side did the shocking, beating eventual winner Argentina in the first game of the group stage of the World Cup. 

He has now left the role and is in line to become the next France manager in the wake of Corinne Diacre's termination. 

The French manager took to his social media account to announce that he is leaving his role as head coach of Al-Saqour.

The AFCON winner with Zambia and Ivory Coast explained that coaching the Saudi men's national team has been a source of great pride for him, saying the job has been an integral part of his life since he took over in 2019.

Herve Renard: “Having been the coach of National team of Saudi Arabia is a great pride for me. Since August 2019, I had the chance to be an integral part of the life of this beautiful country.”

“I have seen this team grow alongside me and achieve a fabulous World Cup with this fantastic and unforgettable win against Argentina. [I am] Very proud to have been able to show to the world the progress and a good image of the Saudi football.

“It’s time for me to fly to another horizon but with this memories engraved in me.”

The resignation comes following reports revealing that Renard is set to become the next Les Bleues coach after former manager Diacre was sacked.  

As we reported in detail here, Renard was part of a four-person shortlist to take over the France Women’s National Team job, and although a decision has not been made about who the French Football Federation would go for, L’Equipe report that the AFCON winner would be willing to take up the job if offered.

Renard is being touted as a favourite to replace Diacre, who was sacked from the job on the 9th of March after a number of French players decided to take a step back from the national team amid serious friction between the players and the management staff. 

Players who left the team cited Diacre’s mismanagement as the reason for quitting, and a panel investigating on behalf of the FFF sided with the players and recommended that she be dismissed to avoid further departures from the team.