Herve Renard is back in charge of the Ivory Coast national team, the country’s football federation (FIF) announced Tuesday. The 57-year-old Frenchman famously led the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory in 2015 and now returns for a second stint, replacing Emerse Fae.
Despite Fae guiding Ivory Coast to the 2024 AFCON title and a historic first knockout stage appearance at the World Cup, he was not retained after a last-32 loss to Norway. Renard, who has a wealth of experience in African football—including a memorable AFCON triumph with Zambia in 2012—was most recently in charge of Tunisia at the World Cup, where results went against him in a tough group.
Renard’s managerial resume also includes spells with Morocco, Ghana, Angola, and a high-profile run with Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup, where the Saudis stunned eventual champions Argentina.
His immediate task will be preparing Ivory Coast for their opening 2027 AFCON qualifier against Ghana in September, as the finals are set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Renard returns to a nation expecting more silverware—and with a track record of delivering just that.
