Hervé Renard returns as Ivory Coast national team coach

This marks Renard's return to lead the Elephants, whom he previously guided to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2015. The FIF stated that this designation aligns with its desire to "consolidate the achievements obtained by the national A team in recent years" and to pursue Ivorian football's ambitions on the African and international stages. Hervé Renard, 57, succeeds Emerse Faé.

He is expected in Abidjan in the coming days to officially assume his duties, with a press and public presentation date to be announced later by the FIF. This return follows his recent tenure with Tunisia, where he managed the last two group stage matches of the Carthage Eagles during the 2026 World Cup after Sabri Lamouchi's departure, concluding on July 4. Prior to that, he had a second stint with Saudi Arabia between October 2024 and April 2026.

Ivory Coast is the fifth different African national team Renard has coached, following Zambia, Angola, Morocco, and Tunisia. His coaching career on the continent began in 2008 with Zambia, leading them to their first continental title at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. He then led Ivory Coast to victory in the 2015 AFCON, becoming the first coach to win the tournament with two different national teams.

After his first spell in Ivory Coast, he coached Morocco from February 2016, guiding them to the 2018 W