Hervé Renard Returns as Ivory Coast Head Coach 11 Years After AFCON Glory
The Ivorian Football Federation has confirmed the return of Hervé Renard as head coach of the national team, bringing back the French tactician 11 years after he guided the Elephants to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
Renard replaces Emerse Faé, whose tenure ended on July 31 despite a highly successful spell that included winning the 2024 AFCON on home soil and leading Ivory Coast to the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history.
Explaining the decision, the Federation said the appointment was part of a broader long-term vision for Ivorian football.
“This appointment reflects the Federation’s determination to consolidate the achievements made by the senior national team in recent years, while continuing to pursue the ambitions set for Ivorian football on both the African and international stages,” read a Federation statement.
“An African champion with Côte d’Ivoire in 2015, Mr Hervé Renard returns to lead the Elephants with the mission of guiding the national team in its preparation for and participation in upcoming international competitions,” it continued.
“Drawing on his experience at the highest level of football, his knowledge of African football, and his attachment to Ivorian football, he will be responsible for continuing the senior national team’s momentum of success, working in close collaboration with the Federation’s governing bodies and technical structures.”
The 57-year-old Renard is no stranger to success in African football. During his first spell with the Elephants, he ended the country’s long wait for continental glory by defeating Ghana in the 2015 AFCON final. That victory also made him the first coach to win the AFCON with two different nations, having previously led Zambia to the title in 2012.
Since then, Renard has managed Morocco, France’s women’s national team, and Saudi Arabia, where he famously guided the Green Falcons to a shock win over eventual world champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He most recently had a short spell with Tunisia before becoming available.
According to the Federation, Renard is expected to arrive in Abidjan later this week to officially begin his second tenure and meet the media. His immediate focus will be the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, where Ivory Coast has been drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, Gambia, and Somalia.
His return comes after the departure of Emerse Faé, who revealed he was informed unexpectedly that his contract would not be extended.
“The officials called me to tell me there would be no contract extension,” Faé told L’Equipe. “It happened all of a sudden, without any explanation.
They acknowledged that the work had been done well and that they had been planning to continue with us, but after yet another meeting among the federation’s leadership, the decision was made not to proceed. I’m not the type to demand answers. I accepted it – that’s just the way it is.”
Faé also reflected on his long-term vision for the team and its development pathway.
“I was already saying before the World Cup that, given the potential of this team, 2026 would allow us to learn while still being ambitious,” he said. “Of the 26 players in the squad, all 26 were newcomers to the tournament, and I was a novice as a head coach too.
I knew we were going to show what we could do and gain valuable experience with 2030 in mind. When I signed permanently after the AFCON, I had a project focused on developing Ivorian football, beyond simply achieving results.”
Renard’s return marks a new chapter for Ivory Coast as the nation looks to build on its recent successes and maintain its status among Africa’s football elite.
