Herve Renard takes over as coach of Ivory Coast

Hervé Renard takes over as Côte d’Ivoire head coach

Hervé Renard has been appointed as head coach of Côte d’Ivoire.

The French man replaces compatriot Sabri Lamouchi who left the job following Côte d’Ivoire’s first round exit at the Brazilian world cup.

The 45-year-old had made a three-candidate shortlist that also included fellow French coach Frédéric Antonetti and Portuguese tactician Manuel José.

A former professional defender for second-tier sides in France , Renard started a coaching career in 1999 with a first experience on the African continent at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana as assistant coach to Claude Leroy.

He next led Zambia to the quarter-finals of the 2010 Afcon, and then to continental glory two years later in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

After failing to qualify the Chipolopolo for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, he tried to save Ligue 1 outfit FC Sochaux from relegation last season, also without success despite a real determination from at the later part of the season.

His first assignment will be to help the Elephants qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in 2015.