Herve Renard set to become new France Women’s head coach

Herve Renard is set to replace Corinne Diacre as the new France Women’s head coach.

Frenchman Renard, who has never previously managed a women’s team, is currently the manager of the Saudi Arabia men’s national team.

France’s players are said to be very happy with the choice of the 54-year-old as a replacement for Diacre, who was sacked as head coach earlier this month after a significant divide between herself and the players became evident.

Advertisement

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, who is also in charge of women’s football at the France Football Federation, has helped lead the selection of candidates alongside Strasbourg president Marc Keller, FFF treasurer Aline Riera and FFF secretary general Laura Georges.

The tipping point came when team captain Wendie Renard announced her withdrawal from the national side, with teammates Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto following suit.

Eric Blahic, Diacre’s former assistant, is expected to return as an assistant but negotiations are ongoing.

Renard is already an experienced coach on the international stage and has taken a significant pay cut to manage the women’s team.

He first came into management in 1999 at French side SC Draguignan and has taken charge of 12 sides, including six international teams, during his 24-year managerial career.

The 54-year-old is a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner with Zambia in 2012 and the Ivory Coast in 2015.

He became the manager of the Saudi Arabia national team in July 2019, and not only helped his side secure qualification to the Qatar World Cup in 2022 but also secured a famous 2-1 victory over Argentina in the group stage.

His appointment is expected to be announced once an agreement has been reached to end his tenure with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

GO DEEPER

France in crisis: Player walkouts, manager on the brink - this is what is really going on

(Photo: Getty Images)