Interested in Hervé Renard’s profile, the African champion coach, Senegal seems, however, to be considering other options.
Recently questioned about the possibility of appointing a Senegalese coach to succeed Aliou Cissé, Augustin Senghor, president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), did not rule out Renard’s candidacy. Currently based in Senegal and the partner of Bruno Metsu’s widow, Viviane Dièye, Renard offers an intriguing profile.
“It’s true that this trend exists and has been excellently represented by Aliou Cissé. However, we need to agree on what that truly means. Habib Beye and Omar Daf are Senegalese, but is Hervé Renard, who lives here, really a foreigner? These are points we will discuss in the Executive Committee,” Senghor clarified.
Hervé Renard is back with his former team
It appears that Renard may no longer be a viable option for Senegal. According to reliable sources from L’Équipe, the two-time AFCON winner with Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015) has committed to Saudi Arabia, stepping in to replace Roberto Mancini, who was dismissed on Thursday after a concerning 0-0 draw with Bahrain in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Herve Renard left a lasting impression in the Gulf, particularly with his remarkable victory over World Champion Argentina in the 2026 opening match. Barring any major surprises, he is expected to return to Saudi Arabia, with the aim of revitalizing the national team, currently in third place in their group, tied with Australia, and five points behind group leader Japan.
Previously, Renard declined Nigeria’s offer due to its requirement of working with an already-established staff, according to L’Équipe. In Senegal, interim duties are expected to be handled by Pape Thiaw and Teddy Pellerin for the remaining matches of the year, ahead of a potential new appointment or the selection of another local coach.
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