Renard begins second Cote d’Ivoire spell with Africa Cup of Nations winners in his squad

Herve Renard has been appointed manager of Cote d’Ivoire, returning to the national team 11 years after leading them to Africa Cup of Nations glory.

The 57-year-old’s appointment was formally confirmed on Tuesday by the Federation Ivoirienne de Football (FIF), ending weeks of speculation over who would succeed Emerse Fae.

Renard will be reunited with Franck Kessie and Ibrahim Sangare, two players he worked with during his first spell in charge between June 2014 and May 2015. Neither midfielder was part of the Cote d’Ivoire squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in 2015.

The appointment takes Renard back to the team with which he secured the second continental title of his managerial career. He had previously guided Zambia to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, before overseeing Cote d’Ivoire’s triumph three years later.

His return had been a long-standing ambition of FIF president Idriss Diallo, according to investigative journalist Romain Molina. Renard had also been approached to replace Jean-Louis Gasset after Gasset left his role during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

That move did not happen at the time because the Federation Francaise de Football (FFF) opposed Renard’s departure. He was then under contract as manager of the France women’s national team.

Renard is now available after a brief and unsuccessful rescue mission with Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup. Following Emerse Fae’s resignation, there appeared to be no obstacle to a return to Cote d’Ivoire, despite interest from Senegal and reports linking him with the Algeria job.

Known for his trademark white shirt on the touchline, Renard will be expected to lead the Elephants through their next phase after taking charge of a squad containing two familiar figures from his previous tenure.

The FIF said Renard would be introduced to the media and the wider sporting public at a news conference.

“Il sera presente aux medias et au public sportif lors d’une conference de presse dont la date, l’heure et le lieu seront communiques ulterieurement”, a ajoute la FIF.

Renard’s first spell with Cote d’Ivoire lasted less than a year, but it brought the country its first Africa Cup of Nations title since 1992. His new appointment represents a return to one of the most successful periods of his coaching career and gives him another opportunity to work with a generation that includes Kessie and Sangare.

The identity of his immediate coaching staff, as well as the date of his first match back in charge, was not included in the federation’s announcement.