Hervé Renard is a French football coach and the current head coach of Ivory Coast. He’s the only coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries, and he led Saudi Arabia to its famous 2-1 win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. Before all that, he spent eight years working as a cleaner at 2:30 AM to fund his coaching dream.
| Date of Birth | September 30, 1968 |
|---|---|
| Age | 58 years |
| Nationality | French |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Occupation | Football manager/coach |
| Height | 1.84 m |
| Partner | Viviane Dièye |
| Children | Kevin Renard, Candide Renard, Audrey Renard |
| Nickname | "The White Wizard" / "Prince of Africa" |
Biography
Hervé Jean-Marie Roger Renard was born on September 30, 1968, in Aix-les-Bains, located in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. He turned 58 in September 2026. His maternal grandparents were Polish immigrants who’d settled in France. He’s become one of international football’s most distinctive figures, known as much for his trademark white shirt as for his ability to transform underdog teams into giant-killers.
Renard attended Lycée Carnot in Cannes during his youth academy years and stands 1.84 metres tall. His playing career as a defender lasted from 1983 to 1998, spanning exclusively French lower divisions including AS Cannes’ youth system, Stade de Vallauris, and SC Draguignan. A knee injury at age 29 ended his playing days, forcing him to reconsider his future in football.
Career
What happened next became football folklore. After retiring from playing, Renard took a coaching position at SC Draguignan, but there was a catch. He couldn’t survive on coaching wages alone. For eight years, he worked as an industrial cleaner to make ends meet whilst pursuing his coaching dreams.
Renard would wake at 2:30 AM and spend the next nine hours cleaning a block of flats, managing rubbish disposal until noon. He’d then prepare for coaching sessions that started at 5 PM, returning home around 9 PM to eat before collapsing into bed at 11 PM. As he told BBC Sport in 2019, “That was my rhythm of life for eight years.”
Eventually, Renard founded his own cleaning company before coaching opportunities expanded.
Coaching Legacy in Africa
Renard’s breakthrough came through his mentor, Claude Le Roy, who taught him the importance of cultural immersion. Between 2002 and 2003, he served as Le Roy’s assistant at Shanghai Cosco in China, then briefly managed Cambridge United in England’s lower divisions in 2004. After stints at AS Cherbourg and as Ghana’s assistant coach, Renard took charge of Zambia in May 2008.
In 2012, he led Zambia to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title, defeating star-studded Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in Libreville, Gabon. The victory was particularly poignant as it occurred near the site where 18 Zambian players had died in a 1993 plane crash.
Three years later, Renard achieved the seemingly impossible. Now coaching Ivory Coast, he faced his former team Zambia before defeating Ghana 9-8 on penalties in the 2015 AFCON final after missing their first two spot-kicks. Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry saved Ghana’s final attempt, then scored the winner himself. Renard became the first coach ever to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different nations.
From Morocco to Saudi Arabia
After brief stints at French clubs Sochaux and Lille, Renard took charge of Morocco in February 2016. He ended the nation’s 20-year World Cup drought by qualifying for Russia 2018, though they exited in the group stage.
In July 2019, he became Saudi Arabia’s first French manager. After guiding them to the 2022 World Cup, Renard orchestrated one of football’s greatest upsets. On November 22, 2022, his Saudi Arabia side defeated Argentina 2-1 in Qatar, with Lionel Messi’s first-half penalty proving insufficient against two quickfire second-half goals.
Right after the final whistle, Renard gave credit to hard work and faith. “It’s coming from work. It’s coming from God,” he said in a pitchside interview shared on YouTube. He added that Argentina were “huge better than us,” and told his players they had made history for their country.
France Women and the Return
Renard resigned from Saudi Arabia in March 2023 to manage France’s women’s national team, making history as the first male head coach of Les Bleues. He became the first manager to lead teams at both men’s and women’s World Cups in the same calendar year, and when France defeated Brazil 2-1 in July 2023, he became the first coach to win matches at both tournaments.
France reached their first-ever continental final in the 2024 UEFA Women’s Nations League, and Renard left the job after France lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
On October 26, 2024, Renard returned to Saudi Arabia following Roberto Mancini’s dismissal. Almost exactly one year later, on October 14, 2025, he guided Saudi Arabia to 2026 World Cup qualification with a goalless draw against Iraq. The moment was deeply emotional for Renard, whose mother had passed away in February 2025.
“My mother was in the stands at Lusail Stadium when we beat Argentina at the 2022 World Cup,” he revealed. “The last time I saw her was in January. She told me, ‘I won’t be able to see you at the next World Cup, but do your best to qualify the team.'”
2026 World Cup: Saudi Exit and Tunisia
Saudi Arabia sacked Renard on April 17, 2026, less than two months before the World Cup. The team had been drawn with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde in Group H. Renard took it calmly, telling AFP, “That’s football,” and pointing out that he was the only coach to take Saudi Arabia through both qualifying and a World Cup.
He still made it to the tournament, just with a different team. On June 16, 2026, Tunisia hired him after a 5-1 opening loss to Sweden. His two games in charge both ended in defeat, 4-0 to Japan and 3-1 to the Netherlands, and Tunisia went out in the group stage. Tunisia later named Moin Chaabani as its permanent coach.
Back With Ivory Coast
On August 4, 2026, Ivory Coast named Renard head coach for a second time. He replaced Emerse Faé, who won the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. His first spell with the Elephants ended with the 2015 AFCON title.
His return started well. On September 24, 2026, Ivory Coast beat Ghana 2-0 in Bouaké in a 2027 AFCON qualifier, with goals from Malick Junior Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié.
His tactical trademark remains his high defensive line and aggressive pressing, the same system that neutralized Argentina in 2022. His famous halftime speech from that match perfectly captures his approach: “Last time, Messi has the ball in the middle of the pitch, you stand in front of the defence. Take your phone, you can make a picture with him if you want.”
The White Shirt Superstition
Renard’s trademark white shirt emerged from superstition at the 2010 AFCON. “We were playing Cameroon. I wore a light blue shirt, but we lost 3-2. In the following game, I wore a white shirt. We won,” he explained. “I won two Africa Cup of Nations on a white shirt, so you want me to change for what?”
He has won the CAF Coach of the Year award three times, in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
Personal Life
Renard’s partner is Viviane Dièye, the widow of Bruno Metsu, the legendary French coach who led Senegal to their famous 2002 World Cup victory over France. Metsu died of colon cancer in October 2013. Viviane, who operates a sports store in Casablanca, Morocco, met Renard during his tenure as Morocco’s coach between 2016 and 2019.
Renard has three biological children from a previous relationship: son Kevin Renard (born September 1989), and daughters Candide and Audrey Renard. Candide has pursued acting and television appearances in France. In 2018, she participated in the reality show Koh-Lanta but alleged sexual assault by a fellow contestant on the fourth night of filming. TF1 cancelled the entire season, and the accused, Eddy Guyot, was formally charged in November 2022. Legal proceedings continued through March 2024.
Renard maintains rigorous fitness through daily running and exercise, which keeps him match-ready on the touchline. Known as “The White Wizard” or “Prince of Africa,” he’s accumulated an impressive social media following with approximately 544,000 Instagram followers, 210,000 on Twitter/X, and 97,000 Facebook likes.
Net Worth
Hervé Renard’s net worth is estimated at $5 million. Most of it comes from coaching salaries, and his two spells with Saudi Arabia paid the most. During his second Saudi spell, his salary was reported at €5 million a year, which made him one of Asia’s best-paid national team coaches.
Earlier, he reportedly earned £1.1 million a year in his first Saudi stint and about $500,000 a year with France’s women’s team. He now earns a salary as Ivory Coast coach, though the terms of his 2026 deal were not made public.
Renard’s income is buttressed by sponsorship partnerships. He’s confirmed as a partner of luxury watchmaker Hublot through their “Hublot Loves Football” campaign, with artist Mira creating personalized artwork featuring “unity” as his coaching value during the 2022 World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Hervé Renard?
Hervé Renard was born on September 30, 1968, so he is 58 years old.
Which team does Hervé Renard coach now?
He coaches Ivory Coast. He was appointed for a second spell in August 2026.
Why did Saudi Arabia sack Hervé Renard?
The Saudi federation let him go in April 2026, less than two months before the World Cup, and gave no detailed public reason. Georgios Donis was tipped to take over.
How many AFCON titles has Hervé Renard won?
Two. He won the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and with Ivory Coast in 2015.
Who is Hervé Renard’s partner?
His partner is Viviane Dièye, the widow of former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu.
Why does Hervé Renard always wear a white shirt?
It’s a superstition. He switched to a white shirt at the 2010 AFCON after a loss in a blue one, and his team won, so he kept it.
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