Monterrey
Tunisia have made the first managerial change of the FIFA World Cup, dismissing head coach Sabri Lamouchi and appointing experienced French manager Herve Renard in his place. The decision comes after Tunisia suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat against Sweden national football team in their opening match of the tournament in Monterrey.
The Tunisian Football Federation announced the change on Tuesday, ending Lamouchi’s tenure just months after he was appointed in January on a contract that was originally set to run until 2028. The former coach became the first managerial casualty of the ongoing World Cup following a disappointing series of results.
Lamouchi leaves the role having overseen only one victory in five matches. Tunisia’s sole success under his leadership came in a 1-0 win against Haiti in March. However, the team struggled in subsequent fixtures, losing 1-0 to Austria before suffering heavy defeats against Belgium and Sweden. The poor performances raised concerns about the team’s competitiveness heading into the tournament.
Tunisia still have crucial Group Stage matches remaining against Japan national football team and Netherlands national football team. With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, federation officials acted swiftly in an attempt to revive the team’s campaign.
In its official statement, the federation confirmed that Renard would take charge for the remainder of Tunisia’s World Cup journey. Officials also revealed that discussions regarding a longer-term agreement could take place after the tournament, depending on sporting objectives and future plans.
Reports from Tunisia’s state broadcaster indicated that Renard was expected to arrive in Monterrey shortly after the announcement to begin preparations with the squad ahead of their next match.
Renard brings a wealth of international experience and is widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in African football. He achieved considerable success by winning the Africa Cup of Nations on two occasions with different national teams, establishing a reputation for inspiring underdog sides to exceed expectations.
The French coach is perhaps best remembered for leading Saudi Arabia national football team to a memorable victory over eventual world champions Argentina national football team during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. That result remains one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Following his time with Saudi Arabia, Renard coached the France women’s national football team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the Paris Olympic Games before returning to Saudi Arabia.