Herve Renard was sacked as Saudi Arabia coach ahead of the 2026 World Cup

said the Frenchman Herve Renard AFP On Friday he was relieved of his position as coach of Saudi Arabia, less than two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

Renard, 57, returned as Saudi coach for a second time at the end of 2024, after taking charge at the last World Cup in Qatar, including a famous victory over eventual champions Argentina in the group stage.

«That’s football… Saudi Arabia has qualified for the World Cup seven times, twice with me,» Renard said AFP via telephone.

«And there is only one coach who has guided them through both the qualifiers and the World Cup; that will be me, in 2022. At least there will be that sense of pride,» he added.

Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner with Zambia and Ivory Coast, managed Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2023 before being replaced by Roberto Mancini.

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He coached the French women’s team and reached the quarter-finals of both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.

Renard was later brought back by Saudi Arabia to succeed Mancini, as the Italian left his role after a disappointing 14 months in charge.

Former Greece international Georgios Donis is reportedly being suggested as the man to take over from Renard.

This was reported by a source close to the negotiations AFP that talks are underway between the federation and the Saudi club Al Khaleej, where Donis has been in charge since 2024.

Saudi Arabia will face Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde in group H at this year’s World Cup.

Published on April 17, 2026