Hervé Renard is back where many Ivory Coast fans believe he belongs. Eleven years after guiding the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations glory, the French coach has returned for a second spell, tasked with building on the country’s recent success and leading another charge for continental honours.
The Ivorian Football Federation confirmed the appointment, ending weeks of speculation following the departure of Emerse Faé. In a statement, the federation said Renard’s return reflects its ambition “to consolidate the achievements made by the senior national team” while pursuing greater success in Africa and on the world stage.
Renard is no stranger to making history. He ended Ivory Coast’s long wait for AFCON success in 2015 and became the first coach to win the tournament with two different nations after previously guiding Zambia to their unforgettable triumph in 2012.
His coaching journey has since taken him to Morocco, Saudi Arabia, France’s women’s national team and, most recently, Tunisia. While his short spell with Tunisia ended in disappointment after an early World Cup exit, his reputation as one of Africa’s finest international coaches remains intact.
His return also marks the end of Emerse Faé’s brief but memorable reign. Faé steered Ivory Coast to a remarkable AFCON title on home soil in 2024 after taking charge midway through the tournament. He later guided the nation’s youngest ever World Cup squad to the knockout stages before Norway ended their campaign.
“The officials called me to tell me there would be no contract extension,” Faé told L’Equipe. “It happened all of a sudden, without any explanation.”
Despite his disappointment, Faé remained optimistic about the team’s future. “I had a project focused on developing Ivorian football, beyond simply achieving results,” he said.
Renard now inherits one of Africa’s brightest young squads. His first assignment will be next month’s AFCON qualifiers, beginning with a heavyweight Group C clash against neighbours Ghana before fixtures against Gambia and Somalia.
For Ivory Coast, this appointment is about more than nostalgia. It is a bold attempt to blend proven leadership with emerging talent as the Elephants chase a fourth African crown.
