French coach Hervé Renard has admitted that leaving Morocco’s national team in 2019 was a mistake.
Renard, who was under contract with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation until 2022, chose to step down three years early.
Reflecting on his decision, the former Zambia manager said he now believes he should have stayed, noting that subsequent developments confirmed leaving was the wrong move.
Appointed in February 2016, Renard inherited a Morocco side that had not qualified for a World Cup since 1998.
Under his guidance, the Atlas Lions returned to the global stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, ending a 20‑year absence and achieving a landmark moment in Moroccan football.
During his tenure, Renard also instilled structure and confidence in the squad while nurturing emerging talents.
Players such as Achraf Hakimi and Youssef En-Nesyri began to rise during this period, later becoming central figures for both the national team and Moroccan football at large.
However, Morocco’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign ended in disappointment with an early exit.
Shortly afterward, Renard opted to leave, describing it at the time as the closing of a “chapter” in his life. Looking back, he acknowledges that stepping down prematurely was a professional misjudgment.
Despite this, Renard reflects positively on his Moroccan experience, highlighting the historic World Cup qualification and the lasting development of the team as key achievements in his career.
