Moroccan football fans put all their hopes in Renard, the only coach to have won two CAN titles with two teams.
Rabat – Moroccan sports channel Arriadia has announced the “imminent” resignation of Herve Renard, head coach of Morocco’s national football team.
“Imminent resignation of Herve Renard from his post,” Arriyadia posted on its Twitter account.
The channel quoted a source close to the international coach.
Active on social media, Renard has not yet confirmed his resignation.
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Démission imminente de @Herve_Renard_HR de son poste d’entraîneur de l’ @EnMaroc (source proche de l’entraîneur pour #Arryadia) #CAN2019 #Maroc pic.twitter.com/nPu21BHXIJ
— Arryadia TV officiel (@arryadiatv) July 8, 2019
The coach joined the national football team in February 2016 and led the Atlas Lions to the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
Since last year, rumors and speculation have run wild over the possibility that Renard might leave the Atlas Lions. Renard has a contract with the Moroccan team until February 2022.
The rumored resignation comes after the defeat of Morocco against Benin during the 16 round of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (CAN) on Friday, July 5. Having gone into the 16 round with 9 points and three victories under their belts, the sudden exit of the Atlas Lions shocked Moroccan fans.
Prior to CAN, Head of Morocco’s Royal Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa said that there is no “guarantee” that Renard will stay with the Moroccan team after the African tournament.
Lekjaa said that Renard’s future depends on the results obtained in an official competition, suggesting that Morocco’s performance at CAN would have a definitive bearing on Renard’s Moroccan adventure.
The FRMF chairman added that after each competition, both parties should take a moment’s pause “before moving forward.”
French news outlet L’Equipe also reported in May that Renard would leave after the continental tournament.
Since then, Renard has firmly shut down any rumors of his resignation. “Some people talk about my future in the media to sow trouble in the Moroccan spirit and if it’s still a little too early to know what will be done, one this is certain,” Renard said in an instagram post.
Renard also denied rumors that he would transfer to another African team, “Out of respect for Morocco and all Moroccans I will not leave in any way for another African nation regardless of it. Those who claim so are wrong.”
Renard, who is a French national, served as a coach of the national team since 2016. He previously coached Cote D’Ivoire and Zambia, winning Africa Cup of Nations with both teams.
