Hervé Renard has quit as coach of Saudi Arabia’s national team and is set to take over France’s women’s team, according to reports.
Renard had a successful tenure in Saudi Arabia, leading the Green Falcons past Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, shocking the world.
Argentina later went on to win the tournament, with Saudi Arabia as its only loss.
The Saudi national team on Tuesday said it had agreed to terminate Renard’s contract, ending a four-year spell in charge.
Although the 54-year-old French coach did not announce his future plans, he thanked the Saudi people and said he was “very proud to have been able to show to the world the progress and a good image of the Saudi football,” according to the Associated Press.
“It’s time for me to fly to an other horizon but with (these) memories engraved in me,” Renard wrote on Twitter.
Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina in the group stage surprised many around the world, and was celebrated in Saudi Arabia, with King Salman announcing a national holiday following the win.
According to the AP, in a video message posted on the Saudi team’s Twitter page, Renard reflected on the win over Argentina by saying: “I think it will stay forever in the memory of the Saudi people….This experience was amazing, with a lot of support,” he added.
