Hervé Renard is officially back at the helm of Ivory Coast. The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced the French coach’s appointment on Tuesday, bringing back the man who led the Elephants to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations title.
Renard already knows the team and its environment well, and he will now take charge of a squad preparing for several major international challenges.
Renard replaces Emerse Faé, who left his position after his contract expired on July 31, 2026. Faé took charge during the 2023 AFCON and guided Ivory Coast to a memorable continental triumph on home soil before leading the Elephants to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former Ivorian international ultimately decided not to continue, opening the door for Renard’s return to the national team.
Renard will travel to Abidjan in the coming days to begin his second spell with the Elephants. The FIF will introduce him during a press conference and announce the details of the event later. The French coach also gained recent international experience at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he stepped in for Tunisia after the federation parted ways with Sabri Lamouchi. He now returns to Ivory Coast with the ambition of building another successful chapter with the team.
