When Herve Renard first emerged on the international stage as Zambia's head coach, the football world quickly realized he was no ordinary manager. He was a charismatic showman with a clear vision. His trademark crisp white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, combined with his relentless pacing along the touchline and passionate, booming instructions that inspired his players, became instantly recognizable. That distinctive style and infectious energy soon led to a historic achievement—the sensational 2012 Africa Cup of Nations triumph with Zambia. From that moment on, the man in the white shirt established himself as one of the greatest coaching icons in African football.🚨 Ivory Coast have reappointed Hervé Renard for a second spell as head coach, replacing Emerse Faé.The 57-year-old Frenchman, who led the Elephants to AFCON glory in 2015, returns with vast African experience, having also won the tournament with Zambia in 2012. pic.twitter.com/7YuSh0474D— Africa Soccer Zone (@AfricaSoccer_zn) August 4, 2026 Eleven years after guiding Ivory Coast to the summit of African football and becoming the first—and still the only—manager to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different national teams, the renowned French coach Herve Renard has returned to lead the Elephants, replacing Emerse Fae, who had been in charge for the past two and a half years. The Ivorian Football Federation has officially confirmed Renard's appointment as the new head coach of the national team, tasking him with maintaining the team's upward trajectory and bringing further stability to its performances.Africans fire their World Cup coachesIn its official statement, the federation described the appointment as a strategic move aimed at building on the progress the national team has made in recent years, with the ambition of continuing its success both on the African continent and on the international stage. Earlier this year, Ivory Coast qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014. The Elephants advanced from the group stage as runners-up behind Germany, finishing ahead of Ecuador and Curacao, before being eliminated in the Round of 32 by Norway, courtesy of an 86th-minute winner from Erling Haaland.Joke of the day: Forty-eight managers walk into World Cup. Guess how many make it out?A towering figure in African football, Renard returns to an environment he knows exceptionally well. It was under his leadership that Ivory Coast lifted the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, ending a title drought that had lasted more than two decades. Renard is expected to arrive in Abidjan in the coming days, when he will officially assume his duties. His formal unveiling and presentation to the media will take place at a press conference, with the exact date, time, and venue to be announced by the federation at a later stage.##NAJAVA_MECA_9879090##
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