April 18, 2026 | 03:05 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Less than two months before the 2026 World Cup, the Saudi national team made a surprising change in their head coach. Herve Renard was dismissed amid crucial preparations for the grand football festival in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. "That’s football … Saudi Arabia have qualified for the World Cup seven times, including twice with me," said Renard as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The decision did not come out of the blue. In the international break last March, Saudi Arabia suffered two defeats. The Green Falcons suffered a 0-4 loss to Egypt and a 1-2 defeat to Serbia. Analysis from ESPN mentioned that these results showed inconsistency that emerged just as the team should have entered the final maturation phase, leading to the major tournament.
Renard, however, came with an undeniable reputation. He not only led Saudi Arabia to qualify for the World Cup but also caused one of the biggest upsets in history by defeating Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. Nevertheless, in the logic of modern football, records rarely serve as guarantees.
Renard's return at the end of 2024 was seen as a quick solution after an unsatisfactory period under Roberto Mancini. He was expected to bring stability and continuity. However, his second period did not yield instant results. The team's performance did not improve significantly, and the time before the World Cup continued to diminish.
In such a situation, the football federation chose to take the risk by making a sudden change. Although uncommon, replacing a coach during the final preparation phase is often done when the federation perceives that the issue is not just about results, but also about the team's playing approach and how they respond to pressure.
The risk of this decision becomes greater when considering the competition map. Saudi Arabia is placed in Group H alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. The first two are former world champions, while Cape Verde is a new and emerging force. Without thorough preparation, advancing from the group stage becomes even more challenging.
Beyond the technical aspects, there is a broader context. Saudi Arabia is embarking on a major football project, including readiness to host the 2034 World Cup. Within this framework, the national team's performance is not just about results, but also about its image and legitimacy as a new force on the global stage. The pressure to perform competitively has therefore multiplied.
So, who will be Renard's replacement? Several names have emerged. Georgios Donis, as reported by Marocco World News, is the frontrunner. The Greek coach currently manages Al Khaleej club. The good news is that he understands the Saudi football context, which is crucial given the limited time for adaptation.
In addition to Donis, Walid Regragui's name has also been mentioned. He is known for his success with Morocco at the international level and is considered to have a disciplined tactical approach. However, the federation has not yet officially confirmed this.
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