The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) on Tuesday appointed Frenchman Hervé Renard as head coach of the Ivory Coast national team, replacing Emerse Faé. The appointment was announced through the federation’s official social media channels.
Renard, 57, returns for a second spell in charge of the Elephants after previously managing the team between 2014 and 2015, when he guided Ivory Coast to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title.
French newspaper Le Parisien had reported earlier on Tuesday that Renard was close to making a return to the Ivorian national team.
Renard succeeds Faé, whose contract was not renewed despite leading Ivory Coast to the 2024 AFCON title and guiding the team to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the country’s best-ever performance at the tournament.
The French coach most recently took charge of Tunisia on an interim basis during the 2026 World Cup after Sabri Lamouchi was dismissed following the Carthage Eagles’ heavy 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden.
Renard oversaw Tunisia’s final two World Cup matches, both of which ended in defeat, losing 4-0 to Japan and 3-1 to the Netherlands.
Following his short stint with Tunisia, Renard remained without a club or national team before returning to Ivory Coast’s bench 11 years later. He remains highly regarded in the country for leading the generation featuring Yaya Touré to the 2015 AFCON title, ending a nearly 25-year wait for continental glory.
Renard boasts one of the strongest coaching records in African football, having also won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012. He has previously managed several national teams, including Ghana, Angola, and Morocco.
His more recent coaching spells have produced mixed results. He was dismissed as Saudi Arabia head coach in April despite qualifying the team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while he guided France’s women’s national team to the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Ivorian Football Federation said Renard is expected to arrive in Abidjan in the coming days to officially begin his new role.
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