From Rabat to Riyadh: Hervé Renard’s confidences on his Moroccan epic

Currently at the head of the Saudi selection, the double winner of the Africa Cup of Nations is actively preparing the next North American World Cup. The confidences collected by Le Point, however, reveal a logistical preparation disrupted by the war in the Middle East, forcing the team to relocate its friendly matches from Doha to Jeddah and Belgrade, despite a climate deemed serene in Riyadh.

On Bladi.net: Hervé Renard: "I should never have left Morocco"

This global tournament will have a special flavor for the tactician. It will be his third participation in this prestigious competition, initiated first on the bench of the Atlas Lions of Morocco, before continuing under the Saudi colors. The coach hopes to take advantage of the new format of the competition to propel his team from the third pot. A declaration of love to the African continent

His book, co-written with journalist Edward Jay, provides an initial assessment of his professional career. The former AS Cannes player pays a strong tribute to Claude Leroy, a fundamental mentor who opened the doors of Africa to him. "I discovered this continent and fell in love with it," he emphasizes, recalling the importance of human relationships in his profession.

In addition to his African epics, the technician looks back on his experiences in France. From his tough but visceral challenge at Sochaux in 2013, to his recent mandate at the head of the French women’s national team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he says he is particularly proud to have been able to rub shoulders with the elite of French training at the Clairefontaine castle.

On Bladi.net: Hervé Renard ruthless towards Brahim Díaz

Refusing to rely exclusively on the omnipresence of statistics to the detriment of the human eye, he does not exclude any avenue to close his ultimate third of a career. Still in search of atypical challenges, he plans to explore the American continent or lead a European selection, notably mentioning family ties with Poland.