Hervé Renard to stay as Saudi Arabia coach amid Ghana links

Hervé Renard will remain as head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team, ending weeks of intense speculation regarding a potential move to the Ghana national team.

Despite reports from Saudi media suggesting a dismissal following a 2-1 friendly defeat to Serbia, and persistent rumors linking him to the vacant Black Stars job, the Frenchman has reached an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) to stay in his post.

Renard, who maintains a strong personal rapport with the SAFF presidency, held high-level discussions this week to clarify his future.

While the 55-year-old had reportedly been a top target for Ghana – a team he previously served as an assistant – he has opted to honor his commitment to the Green Falcons.

The GFA’s search for a high-profile replacement follows the recent dismissal of Otto Addo, who was relieved of his duties just 72 days before the World Cup kickoff.

Addo’s tenure ended abruptly following a string of poor results, including a 4-0 loss to Egypt and a 2-1 defeat against Germany.

Most critically, Ghana’s football community remains reeling from a historic failure to qualify for the 2025 AFCON—the first time the four-time champions have missed the tournament in over 20 years after finishing bottom of their qualifying group without a single win.

Renard was widely viewed by Ghanaian fans and officials as the ideal candidate to stabilize a team currently ranked 74th in the world.

His deep history with Ghana, dating back 18 years to his role as a physical trainer and assistant to Claude Le Roy during AFCON 2008, fueled hopes of a “homecoming”.

Furthermore, his proven track record on the continent—winning AFCON titles with both Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015)—made him the primary target to navigate Ghana through a challenging World Cup Group L featuring England, Croatia, and Panama.