Can New Head Coach Herve Renard Turn the French Women’s National Team Around?
In recent women’s soccer news, the French women’s national team has been going through turmoil, including changing head coaches just months before the Women’s World Cup. The French Football Federation (FFF) announced in an official statement that Herve Renard has been appointed the new coach of the France women’s national team. But, before we start celebrating the news, will this mean a new chapter for the French women’s national team, and can we expect our favorite French stars to be back on the World Cup team?
Who is Herve Renard
Herve Renard is well-known and well-regarded. His popularity skyrocketed after he led Saudi Arabia’s men’s team in the last World Cup and managed to get three points against an elite Argentina team, who eventually became the champions.
However, the 54-year-old coach resigned from his role as coach of the Saudi Arabia men’s team after Diacre’s dismissal. The Saudi National Team’s official Twitter account released a statement: “The Saudi Arabian Football Federation Board of Directors has agreed on the contract termination of the Head Coach of the Saudi National team Mr. Herve Renard upon his request.”
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Renard is French, which could be one reason that made him accept his new role. Another, of course, is the idea of leading another team in the World Cup.
He said to the media that another reason that encouraged him to leave Saudi Arabia was his belief that he took them as far as he could and there was nothing new that he could add to the team. Could he add something new to the France women’s national team?
His Career
Renard is an extremely accomplished coach. Other than defeating Argentina while leading Saudi Arabia, Renard led Zambia to win the African Nations Cup in 2012. This win was surprising, especially since Zambia’s opponent, Ivory Coast, was considered the better side.
He didn’t stop at that as he won the same title three years later, but this time he was leading Ivory Coast. This win made him the first coach to win the African Nations Cup twice with two different teams.
Renard led Morrocco to their first World Cup qualification in 2018; however, he was sacked after they didn’t qualify for the 2019 African Cup of Nations. He is capable of breaking records but hasn’t had long-term success with a team besides his four-year spell with Saudi Arabia.
The French Team in Turmoil
Renard’s arrival comes at an intense time for France’s women’s national team. He replaces Corinne Diacre, who caused great controversy while she was coaching the team and even after she was sacked.
Diacre was fired after tensions reached the point where several players announced they’d step away from the national team as long as she was the coach. One of these players is France’s captain Wendie Renard who stepped away before Diacre was fired.
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She was followed by her two teammates, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Kadidiatou Diani and striker Marie Antoinette Katoto. The team under Diacre was, at best, questionable and, at worst, not functional. She left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup roster for unknown reasons, had a public fight with Amandine Henry and didn’t choose her for the 2022 Euros, and failed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
Indeed, Diacre is no longer in the picture, but will that mean things will get better? Renard will have to find a way to navigate and find answers to this question.
The Safety of France’s Players
Herve Renard’s coaching resume may speak for itself, but the safety and well-being of the French players is another crucial issue to address.
Wendie Renard stepped away from the national team to protect her mental health. Overall, there is concern about how the French Football Federation will protect its players from similar situations to what led Wendie Renard and her teammates to step away. In fact, the FFF even issued the players a warning about how they expressed their criticism of their former coach.
So, in addition to what Herve Renard can bring to the table as a coach, we should talk about what he will bring to care for his players as people. With his history coaching men’s soccer, it’ll be interesting to see his career unfold leading up to the World Cup coaching the French women’s national team.
Moving closer to the World Cup, it looks like Coach Renard is set on putting together the best French team possible, including defender Wendie Renard. Even though she stepped away, he still called her up just a few days ago for the international window. The question is, will she answer the call? Will the standards of the team change under a new coach, or do problems run deeper?
Featured image via Équipe de France Fémenine on Instagram and Twitter
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