The Frenchman Hervé Renard officially announced the end of his tenure with the Saudi national team, just two months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, in a surprising decision that raised many questions.

The French coach confirmed in a press statement that he has been relieved of his position, noting that this is the nature of football, despite his previous successful experience with the team in the qualifiers and the World Cup.

Renard stated that he feels proud of what he has achieved with the national team, especially leading the team in the 2022 World Cup, considering himself one of the names that have left a clear mark in the history of Saudi football.

The decision to leave came at a very critical time, as the Saudi national team is preparing to compete in the World Cup, placing the new coaching staff under significant pressure before the global event.

The Greek Giorgos Donis is close to taking over the coaching role for Al-Akhdar, after receiving the highest evaluation among several coaches nominated to succeed Renard.

There is a sense of anticipation within the Saudi sports community awaiting the official announcement, amid concerns about the impact of limited time on the team's preparations before participating in the World Cup.

Many believe that changing the coach at this time could disrupt the team's plans, especially since the new coaching staff would need more time to impose their style and prepare the players optimally.