Herve Renard quits as Morocco coach

Herve Renard has quit his position as the head coach of Morocco’s national football team.

The Frenchman announced on his Facebook page, saying: “It is time for me to close this long and beautiful chapter of my life, not without some emotion and sadness. Morocco will always remain for me a country with which I lived incredible emotions.”

As a coach, Renard steered Zambia (2012) and Ivory Coast (2015) to Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) glory but was unable to do the same with Morocco.

At the 2019 Afcon, hosted by Egypt, Morocco’s Atlas Lions crashed out in the Round of 16 after losing a penalty shootout to Benin.

Renard was, nevertheless, a popular figure in Moroccan football, having taken the country’s national team to two Afcon tournaments as well as the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

In addition, his presence as the coach – he took over in February 2016 – sparked tremendous progress in the team, with the country’s Fifa ranking improving from 81 to 47 during his tenure.

In partnership with ANA and Mediapix