Who is Herve Renard? The former Saudi Arabia coach Tunisia turned to after chaotic start to World Cup

Tunisia have announced the appointment of Herve Renard as their new manager, having sacked his predecessor Sabri Lamouchi following their 5-1 World Cup group-stage defeat to Sweden.

The African nation took the drastic measure of sacking Lamouchi on Monday, making the former Cardiff City manager the first coach to be sacked after just one game at a World Cup.

Lamouchi's dismissal follows reports of tension between him and Tunisia's federation, and also within the squad.

Tunisia announced the arrival of Renard on Tuesday, and the 57-year-old will immediately get to work ahead of Sunday's fixture against Japan.

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Former Sunderland and Ligue 1 midfielder Wahbi Khazri is expected to retain his place among the coaching staff.

Tunisia's World Cup campaign got off to a horror start on Monday as they suffered a comprehensive defeat to Graham Potter's Sweden.

Yasin Ayari and Alexander Isak fired Sweden into a 2-0 lead, before Omar Rekik cut into the deficit before half-time.

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But after the break, Viktor Gyokeres and Mattias Svanberg extended Sweden's lead, before Ayari notched their fifth in stoppage time.

With 32 places in the knockout spots at this year's expanded competition, Tunisia's hopes of progressing are far from dead. But they will be seeking an immediate impact from Renard in the dug-out, and he has plenty of World Cup experience to offer.

Who is Herve Renard?

A few months ago, it would not have been difficult to foresee Renard managing at this year's World Cup.

He was the manager of Saudi Arabia until April, when the Middle Eastern nation took the decision to sack the Frenchman less than two months before the start of the tournament.

Former Greece international Georgios Donis was appointed as his replacement.

That brought an end to Renard's second spell as Saudi Arabia boss, having previously been in charge for over three years, during which he led the team in their World Cup campaign in Qatar 2022.

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His highest-profile achievement during that reign was undoubtedly Saudi Arabia's 2-1 victory against eventual winners Argentina in their opening game of that tournament.

However, they did not manage to make it to the knockout stages.

Renard's first spell in charge of Saudi Arabia ended in March 2023, as he became the head coach of France's women's national team, leading them at the World Cup later that year.

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His side crashed out in the quarter-finals with a penalty shoot-out defeat to hosts Australia, and his reign came to an end the following summer as he returned for a second spell with Saudi Arabia, in which he made an immediate impact to help them to World Cup qualification.

Renard's appointment as Tunisia boss means he will manage a third different team at a men's World Cup. He also led Morocco at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

He has a vast list of previous clubs and counties.

Aside from taking charge of Lille and FC Sochaux in his native France, Renard has also led three more African national sides, Zambia and Ivory Coast and Angola, winning the Africa Cup of Nations with the first two.

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