Hervé Renard

Hervé Renard
Кирилл Венедиктов · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Hervé Renard
Fullname	Hervé Renard
Birth date	1968-09-30
Birth place	Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Height	1.82 m
Position	Defender
Years1	1986–1990
Clubs1	US Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie
Years2	1990–1992
Clubs2	Le Poiré-sur-Vie
Years3	1992–1994
Clubs3	Vendée Luçon Football
Years4	1994–2001
Clubs4	AS Cannes B
Manageryears1	2002–2004
Managerclubs1	AS Cannes (assistant)
Manageryears2	2007–2008
Managerclubs2	Ivory Coast (assistant)

Hervé Renard is a French professional football manager and former player known for leading national teams to major tournament success. He gained international prominence after winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia national football team and Ivory Coast national football team, later managing in France, England, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. Renard's career spans roles at club academies, national associations, and top-tier leagues, and he is noted for his motivational methods and defensive organisation.

Early life and playing career

Born in Les Sables-d'Olonne in Vendée, Renard developed as a player in regional clubs including US Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, Le Poiré-sur-Vie and Vendée Luçon Football, before spending time with reserve sides linked to AS Cannes. During his playing days he operated primarily as a defender and appeared in lower divisions of the French football league system, sharing the era with contemporaries from Ligue 1 youth setups such as players who later represented France national football team and clubs like AS Monaco FC and Olympique de Marseille.

Coaching beginnings

Renard transitioned into coaching in the late 1990s and early 2000s, taking roles at youth and reserve levels before joining the staff at AS Cannes as an assistant, where he worked alongside coaches connected to the development pathways that produced talents for Paris Saint-Germain and AJ Auxerre. He later moved into international coaching appointments, including assistant and technical roles with the Zambia national football team setup and with Angola national football team staff, linking him to personnel networks involving the Confederation of African Football and coaches who had rotated between African federations and European clubs.

International managerial career

Renard achieved widespread recognition after his appointment as head coach of the Zambia national football team in 2011, guiding the squad to victory at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in a tournament celebrated alongside past winners like Egypt national football team and Cameroon national football team. That triumph followed the memory of the 1993 Zambian national football team plane crash and drew comparisons with coaches who had overseen continental turnarounds, such as managers of Ghana national football team and Nigeria national football team. In 2014 he became manager of Ivory Coast national football team and led them to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title, defeating opponents including Ghana national football team and drawing praise from figures linked to FIFA and former winners like Algeria national football team. Renard later accepted the managerial post at Morocco national football team, navigating qualifications for FIFA World Cup cycles while competing in tournaments against teams such as Senegal national football team and Egypt national football team.

Club managerial career

Parallel to his international work, Renard held club positions across several countries. He took charge of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and worked within structures influenced by clubs like FC Metz and Stade Rennais F.C.; he later managed in England with Leeds United-linked coaching networks and had spells in Saudi Pro League sides where he faced opposition from managers affiliated with Al Hilal SFC and Al Nassr FC. His club duties frequently intersected with transfer markets and scouting systems that involve agencies connected to UEFA competitions, bringing him into contact with executives from clubs such as Olympique Lyonnais, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid CF through friendlies, tournaments, and coaching conferences.

Managerial style and tactics

Renard's approach emphasises disciplined defence, transitional counterattacking and intensive man-management, reflecting tactical principles seen in setups of managers like Didier Deschamps, José Mourinho, and Marcelo Bielsa. He is known for setting clear defensive organisation similar to teams coached by Antonio Conte and for building cohesive team spirit comparable to squads managed by Jürgen Klopp and Gareth Southgate. Renard places emphasis on set-piece routines and player roles akin to methods used by coaches from Spain national football team setups and by practitioners involved in UEFA coaching courses and FIFA coaching education programmes.

Personal life and honours

Renard's personal life has included media visibility in France and recognition from sporting institutions; his honours include two Africa Cup of Nations titles and national awards conferred by federations in Zambia and Ivory Coast. He has been profiled alongside coaches who have received accolades such as Ballon d'Or winners, FIFA World Coach nominees, and recipients of national orders of merit similar to decorations awarded to sports figures in France and across Africa. Renard has also served as a speaker at coaching seminars attended by representatives of UEFA, CONMEBOL, and AFC.

Category:French football managers Category:1968 births Category:Living people