Hervé Renard explains Saudi Arabia return | OneFootball

A couple of months after leaving the French national team, Hervé Renard is returning to a familiar place. The man who guided Zambia to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2012 has been named the new coach of Saudi Arabia, a job he previously held from 2019 until 2023.

Renard returned to his native France to take over as women’s national team coach, replacing Corinne Diacre, who had fallen out of favour with her players.

According to Renard, there was a straightforward reason why he chose to leave his post as Saudi coach. “I didn’t intend to leave, but when your country knocks on your door, you have to answer,” says Renard.

“My connection with Saudi Arabia, the fans, the players, and all the memories I’ll never be able to forget. I haven’t finished my story with Saudi Arabia.”

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Renard orchestrated one of the greatest upsets in the history of Saudi Arabia, as his side came back to defeat the future world champions Argentina 2-1.

Renard had been out of work since officially resigning as manager of Les Bleues after they exited the Paris Olympics in the quarter-finals.

He also guided France to a quarter-final appearance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where they lost in a penalty shootout versus the co-hosts Australia.

The 56-year-old Renard has been named the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Coach of the Year three times in 2012, 2015 and 2018.

In his managerial career, Renard has been the head coach of seven different national teams, including two stints in charge of the Zambian men’s team.

He also previously coached the Moroccan, Ivory Coast and Angolan men’s teams, and was briefly in charge of Lille OSC in 2015.

The Saudis have had a difficult start to their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, winning just one of their last five contests (2-1 over China).

They are tied with Australia for second place in the third qualification round, which comes with an automatic qualification in the upcoming World Cup, which takes place in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

GFFN | Joel Lefevre