Herve Renard has returned as head coach of the Ivory Coast national football team for a second spell, with the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirming his appointment on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old Frenchman replaces Emerse Fae, bringing an end to the tenure of the coach who guided the Elephants to their third Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 2024.

Renard’s return marks a reunion with a team he famously led to continental success in 2015, when Ivory Coast defeated Ghana on penalties in the AFCON final to lift the trophy for the first time in more than two decades.

Fae exits despite recent achievements

Fae leaves the role despite recording significant achievements during his time in charge of the national team. After taking over during the 2024 AFCON, he inspired a remarkable turnaround that saw the hosts recover from a poor start to win the tournament.

He also guided Ivory Coast to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the country’s first appearance in the competition’s knockout rounds.

The Elephants’ World Cup journey ended in the last 32 after a 2-1 defeat to Norway, but the campaign was widely regarded as a milestone in the nation’s football history.

Despite those accomplishments, the federation opted to make a coaching change as preparations begin for the next AFCON and the 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle.

Renard’s impressive African record

Renard is one of the most successful foreign coaches in African football history. Before his first spell with Ivory Coast, he guided Zambia to a memorable AFCON triumph in 2012, defeating the heavily favoured Ivory Coast side in the final.

His success with Zambia and Ivory Coast made him the first coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries, cementing his place among the continent’s most respected tacticians.

Beyond those achievements, Renard has managed several African national teams, including Morocco, Ghana and Angola, gaining extensive experience across the continent.

His familiarity with African football and his previous success with the Elephants are expected to play a key role as he begins his second tenure.

International coaching experience

Outside Africa, Renard has also built an impressive international coaching résumé.

He was in charge of Saudi Arabia during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where his side produced one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by defeating eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in the group stage.

Renard later returned to manage Saudi Arabia in 2024 but was dismissed before the 2026 World Cup after failing to meet expectations.

He also briefly coached Tunisia during the 2026 World Cup after taking over following the team’s heavy opening defeat to Sweden. However, Tunisia went on to suffer further losses against Japan and the Netherlands, ending their campaign without progressing beyond the group stage.

Eyes 2027 AFCON

Renard’s immediate focus will be preparing Ivory Coast for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

His first competitive match back in charge will be a high-profile qualifier against Ghana in September, renewing one of African football’s fiercest rivalries.

The 2027 AFCON finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with Ivory Coast aiming to secure qualification and challenge for another continental title under the guidance of their returning coach.

The federation will hope Renard can recreate the success of his first spell and establish the Elephants as one of Africa’s leading football nations once again.