Renard quits Saudi Arabia for French Women's World Cup-bound team

Herve Renard, the erstwhile coach of Saudi Arabia's national team, has stepped down from his position to assume the role of head coach for the French women's soccer team ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

The 54-year-old Frenchman was initially appointed as Saudi Arabia's coach in July 2019 and led the nation to an impressive 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in the World Cup held in Qatar last year.

In a statement released on Twitter, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) announced that they had agreed to terminate Renard's contract upon his request, wishing him success in his future endeavors. SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal, speaking to the Saudi Sports Channel (SSC), stated that Renard had received an offer from the French federation and expressed his desire to seize the opportunity.

According to Al-Misehal, the French federation informed them of Renard's interest four days prior to the international window. Following consultations with several board members, they decided to accept the request.

Renard's tenure with the French women's team will commence with a pre-World Cup friendly against the Republic of Ireland at Tallaght Stadium on July 6. This appointment follows the French soccer federation's (FFF) recent dismissal of Corinne Diacre, after team captain Wendie Renard announced she would not participate in the World Cup if Diacre remained in charge.

Currently ranked fifth in the world, the French women's team is eager to claim their first-ever World Cup title in the upcoming tournament, which will be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia from July 20 to August 20.