Tunisia appoints Hervé Renard after World Cup rout

Tunisia appointed Hervé Renard as head coach in a rapid move after firing Saber Laamouchi, following a 5-1 loss to Sweden early Monday. The decision came after growing criticism of Laamouchi and the Tunisian federation’s impatience after a 5-0 friendly defeat to Belgium about two weeks earlier. Officials had initially decided not to make a change just before the World Cup, but the heavy defeat to Sweden led to his dismissal.

Negotiations with Renard began almost immediately and quickly turned into a contract. Renard was himself dismissed by Saudi Arabia about two months ago, even though he had taken the team to the World Cup. Tunisia’s swift coaching change was completed just after the blowout in Sweden.

Renard, 57, brings extensive experience in major international tournaments. He led Zambia and Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations titles in the previous decade and is now at his third consecutive World Cup. He coached Morocco in 2018 and Saudi Arabia in 2022, where the victory over Argentina is his most memorable result.

He is also one of only two coaches to have managed at both the men’s and women’s World Cups. In 2023, he coached France’s women’s team to the quarterfinals at the World Cup in Australia.