Saudi Arabia are set to part ways with head coach Herve Renard only 59 days before their first World Cup game against Uruguay on June 15 with Georgios Donis set to be appointment.
Renard, 57, had been in charge of the national team for around six years in total, across two different spells either side of a year-long stint with France’s women’s side.
Donis, a former Greece international, has been coaching in Saudi Arabia since 2021 and is currently coach of Saudi Pro League side Al Khaleej.
After facing Uruguay in Miami, Saudi play Spain in Atlanta on June 21 before concluding their group against Cape Verde six days later, on June 27, in Houston.
Renard’s return to Saudi Arabia in October 2024 led to the side turning around poor form in the third round of World Cup qualification to beat China and Bahrain, while drawing with Japan, to qualify for the next round, in which Renard’s side then topped the group to secure their place in the summer tournament.
Despite leading the side to this summer’s competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico, he becomes the second coach of a World Cup nation in quick succession to leave his post after Ghana sacked Otto Addo on March 31. Former Real Madrid, Colombia and Iran coach Carlos Quieroz has since been appointed his successor.
Renard joined Saudi Arabia in 2019, and qualified for the Qatar World Cup in 2022. They finished bottom of Group C but managed a remarkable win against eventual winners Argentina in their opening match.
The Frenchman then became head coach of France’s women’s side ahead of the 2023 World Cup, losing in the quarter-final on penalties to co-hosts Australia.
It was his sixth role in charge of a national team, having also managed Morocco, Angola, Zambia and Ivory Coast. With the latter two teams, Renard became the first coach in history to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries, leading Zambia to the title in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015.
Saudi Arabia have one scheduled friendly ahead of their World Cup opener against Uruguay on June 15 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, taking on Ecuador on May 31.
