Simran Joshi
The thrilling revival also saw the re-engagement of Herve Renard, the Frenchman turned coach for the national Saudi Arabia football team, on the coaching role that supersedes Italian Roberto Mancini who opted to part ways with his team this week. Renard, who took the Saudi side to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, returns behind the wheel after his experience of managing the French women’s side in the World Cup and the following Paris Olympics. His contract is until 2025 but would remain valid till 2027 Asian Cup. He comes back at the right time when the team needs him to steer it through the ensuing critical World Cup qualifiers.
Herve Renard Returns to Saudi National Team, Filling Void Left by Mancini’s Departure
French coach Herve Renard is back at the helm of Saudi Arabia’s national football team, taking over from Roberto Mancini, who mutually parted ways with the team just 14 months after his appointment. Coach Renard coached the Saudis between 2019 and 2023 and was happy with his achievement, as evident in the social media post he put up, stating, “I did not finish my story with Saudi yet.” The new deal signed would take him until the end of 2025; if the situation goes in his favor, he would be there for the Asian Cup in 2027.
Renard left Saudi Arabia to head the France women’s national team in the first instance; there, he has led them in the Women’s World Cup and built them for the Paris Olympics to come next. Then comes this call from Saudi Arabia. He couldn’t stay out and ignored this time when “your country knocks on your door.”
Herve Renard Returns to Saudi National Team, Filling Void Left by Mancini’s Departure
Renard’s return is just when Saudi Arabia need it most, as they sit third in Group C of the Asia World Cup qualifiers. In his second tenure, Renard has tougher challenges ahead of him. The Saudis lost 2-0 to Japan recently and then drew 0-0 against Bahrain. They are five points behind group leaders Japan and need a good performance in the remaining qualifiers to secure automatic qualification.
This will be a long tour with crucial away matches played by the team in Australia and Indonesia in November, hence, the top two of each group will head for World Cup qualification. Once more, the strategic skill sets of Renard shall provide necessary impetus to surmount the next phase of qualifications.
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