Hervé Renard dismissed as Saudi Arabia coach ahead of World Cup | OneFootball

Hervé Renard has been dismissed as Saudi Arabia head coach, ending hopes of a third successive World Cup. According to L'Équipe, the 57-year-old was sacked on Friday, with the tournament in the United States from 11 June to 19 July.

He previously led Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022, when his team upset Argentina 2-1 on 22 November. He returned after coaching France’s women at the Olympics and replaced Roberto Mancini during qualifying following the Italian’s poor start.

After a jittery March window he was initially kept on despite defeats to Egypt 0-4 and Serbia 1-2. He told superiors he intended to finish the job, and the federation president had pushed back talk of a sacking after the Egypt loss.

Renard was frustrated by numerous call-offs for that camp as several absentees then played for their clubs. Following a frank discussion he agreed to continue, even as Ghana moved after dismissing Otto Addo following a 1-2 defeat to Germany on 30 March.

Popular in Ghana after Africa Cup triumphs with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015, he was admired by the presidency and by Abedi Pelé, who were keen to see him appointed. Having chosen to stay with Saudi Arabia, he declined, and the federation turned to Carlos Queiroz, 73. Despite reaffirming his commitment for a daunting group against Uruguay, Spain and Cape Verde, high-level noise persisted and, after days of reflection and media pressure, the decision was made public.

Source: L'Équipe