Tunisia has appointed renowned French coach Hervé Renard as head coach for the remainder of its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, replacing Sabri Lamouchi just a day after the team's crushing 5-1 defeat to Sweden.
The Tunisian Football Federation announced the decision on Monday, saying Renard would take charge with immediate effect as the North African nation seeks to revive its fortunes in the tournament.
“Tunisia Football Federation announces the appointment of Hervé Renard to lead the national team until the end of the 2026 World Cup,” the federation said in a statement.
Lamouchi's dismissal followed Sunday's heavy loss to Sweden, a result that intensified pressure on the coaching staff and raised concerns over Tunisia's performance on the global stage.
Renard arrives with an impressive record in international football, particularly in Africa, where he has established himself as one of the continent's most successful coaches.
The Frenchman is perhaps best remembered globally for masterminding Saudi Arabia's stunning victory over Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.
According to local reports, Tunisia is considering offering Renard a longer-term contract after the World Cup, reflecting confidence in his ability to rebuild the national team.
Born in Aix-les-Bains, France, on September 30, 1968, Renard enjoyed a professional playing career spanning 15 years with clubs including AS Cannes, Stade de Vallauris and SC Draguignan.
His path to coaching success was far from conventional. After retiring from football, Renard briefly worked as a cleaner at Draguignan while running his own cleaning business before pursuing a full-time coaching career.
His breakthrough came with Zambia, where he guided the Chipolopolo to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time in 14 years.
After a short spell with Angola, he returned to Zambia and led the team to its historic maiden AFCON title in 2012.
Renard later coached French side Sochaux before taking charge of Ivory Coast in 2014. A year later, he became the first coach to win AFCON with two different countries after steering the Ivorians to continental glory, adding to the title he had won with Zambia.
He has also managed Morocco and Saudi Arabia, earning a reputation for transforming national teams and delivering results in major tournaments.
Tunisia will now look to Renard's wealth of experience and proven tournament pedigree as it seeks to restore confidence and competitiveness during the remainder of the World Cup.
