Herve Renard has been met with significant scepticism after returning to lead Cote d’Ivoire, despite his historic success with the national team.
A poll conducted by Abidjan.net, involving 1,457 website users, found that 41.94% viewed Renard’s appointment as a bad decision. A further 29.03% described it as a risky choice, even while acknowledging the French coach’s qualities.
That means almost seven in 10 respondents expressed reservations about his return. The figures should be treated with some caution because they reflect only the views of visitors to the website, rather than the wider Ivorian population. Even so, the result is striking given Renard’s previous achievements with the Elephants.
Much of the unease appears to stem from the circumstances surrounding Emerse Fae’s departure. Fae was appointed during the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 and guided Cote d’Ivoire to an unexpected and memorable triumph on home soil.
He subsequently led the team back to the World Cup, ending a 12-year absence from football’s biggest international tournament. Alongside those results, Fae represented a home-grown coaching figure with whom supporters could readily identify.
His exit therefore immediately created an opening for speculation about Renard’s return.
Renard’s record, however, offers strong reasons for confidence. He was the manager when Cote d’Ivoire won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015, ending a 23-year wait for a second continental title after their first success in 1992.
Three years earlier, he had also taken Zambia to a historic Africa Cup of Nations victory. Few coaches have comparable knowledge of the challenges and character of African football.
Several former Ivorian football figures welcomed the prospect of his comeback, while Renard himself has spoken enthusiastically about taking on the job again.
The coach, widely associated with his white shirt, has signed a two-year contract. He believes Cote d’Ivoire possess a high-quality squad and wants to help turn them from a good team into a truly outstanding national side.
Renard also intends to monitor new players, including some who are eligible through dual nationality, while continuing to rely on an experienced generation already established in the team.
His attachment to Cote d’Ivoire appears genuine. Renard said he did not need much time to consider the offer when the federation contacted him.
The early poll result is not a final judgement on his appointment. International football supporters can change their views quickly, and a small run of convincing performances would probably be enough to shift the mood.
Renard is more familiar than most with the importance of results in African international football. In 2015, he became part of Cote d’Ivoire’s history within a matter of weeks.
Eleven years on, he must win the confidence of the Ivorian public once again, although the circumstances surrounding his return are less favourable than many might have expected.