Hervé Renard's departure as head coach of the Saudi Arabian men's national football team was confirmed in March 2023. The French manager resigned from his position to take over as the new head coach of the France women's national team, succeeding Corinne Diacre.
Renard's tenure with Saudi Arabia was widely regarded as successful, highlighted by a historic 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. His contract with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation was set to run until 2027.
The move to the French Football Federation (FFF) was finalized after the FFF parted ways with Diacre following player unrest. Renard's appointment to lead Les Bleues was announced on March 30, 2023, marking a significant career shift from men's to women's international football.
Under Renard, the Saudi national team had risen in the FIFA rankings and demonstrated notable tactical discipline. His resignation, while a surprise given his contract length, was driven by the opportunity to coach his home country's national team ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup.
