Hervé Renard still under contract with Saudi Arabia as France Women’s team await new manager

L’Équipe report this morning that although Hervé Renard’s arrival as France Women’s national team manager appears to be a formality, he remains under contract with Saudi Arabia, with an agreement on the end of his contract yet to be found.

The double AFCON winner emerged as the frontrunner to replace Corinne Diacre last week, with the latter having been dismissed from her position amid a player exodus over her management style, just months before the World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

However, Renard will be taking charge of Saudi Arabia in their match against Bolivia tonight, with an agreement yet to be found on his departure from the national team he led to victory over world champions Argentina in the last World Cup. He remains under contract until 2027, and is not expected to leave before Friday – meaning, in theory, he will not be able to call up a squad list for Les Bleues’ final international break before the World Cup.

An extended list of 56 players has already been prepared by the French FA committee tasked with finding Diacre’s successor, and the organisation are hoping that Eric Blahic, who is expected to be named Renard’s assistant, will be able to unveil a streamlined squad if the latter is still unavailable. The international break will last between April 3 to 11, with Les Bleues taking on Colombia and Canada.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin