Herve Renard completes surprise return as Saudi coach

Paris: The Saudi football association confirmed HerveRenard s surprise return as coach to replace the sacked Roberto Mancini on Saturday. Renardsuc...

Paris: The Saudi football association confirmed Herve Renard's surprise return as coach to replace the sacked Roberto Mancini on Saturday.

Renard succeeds the Italian in the Gulf kingdom's football hot seat after a spell in charge of France's women's Olympic team at the Paris Games.

Renard, who managed the Saudis between 2019 and 2023, has signed a two-year contract, a source close to the negotiations revealed.

"His return has sparked a lot of controversy but the fact that he knows the team well was the deciding factor in his return," the Saudi source said. "Let's hope he corrects the situation for the World Cup qualifiers."

"I've never forgotten the connection between the public and the country and all the memories," Renard said in a Saudi association video posted on social media.