Frenchman Hervé Renard, who won AFCON with Zambia and Ivory Coast, will leave his role with Saudi Arabia despite qualifying for the World Cup.
Published April 17, 2026
With less than two months to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in North America, Frenchman Herve Renard has been fired as Saudi Arabia’s coach.
The 57-year-old led the team in the last World Cup in Qatar four years ago and was set to return for the second time as a Saudi manager at the end of 2024.
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“That’s soccer…Saudi Arabia has been to the World Cup seven times, including my two,” Leonard told AFP on Friday.
“And the only coach who led them both in qualifying and in the World Cup is me in 2022. At least there will be that pride.”
Renard, who won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) twice with Zambia and Ivory Coast, was Saudi Arabia’s manager from 2019 to 2023 before being replaced by Italian coach Roberto Mancini.
From 2023 to 2024, she coached the French women’s team, reaching the quarter-finals of both the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Former Morocco manager Renard was recalled to Saudi Arabia to replace Mancini, but the Italian resigned after an underwhelming 14-month spell.
Former Greece international Georgios Donis is reported to be a candidate to replace Leonard. A source close to the negotiations told AFP that negotiations were underway between the federation and Saudi club Al Khaleej, where Donis will be the coach from 2024.
Saudi Arabia will be in Group H for the 2026 World Cup, alongside defending champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as debutants Cape Verde. All of their group games will be played across the United States.
The Arab nation has appeared in six World Cups, their best result to date being a last-16 finish at the 1994 tournament in the United States.
Saudi Arabia’s team was eliminated in the group stage at the last World Cup in 2022, but made headlines around the world with a shocking 2-1 group victory over eventual champions Argentina.
Saudi Arabia is also the host of the 2034 World Cup.
