Hervé Renard, the Saudi national team coach, defended himself against the strong criticism he has faced from the Saudi press recently following the Green Falcons’ elimination from the 2025 Arab Cup semi-finals against Jordan.
Renard returned to coach the Saudi national team last year, succeeding Roberto Mancini, and narrowly qualified for the 2026 World Cup amidst significant concerns about a clear decline in the Green Falcons’ performance. These concerns intensified and reached their peak after the team’s performance in the Arab Cup held in Qatar.
Saudi Arabia is preparing to play the UAE for third place. At the press conference, Renard was asked about the rumors circulating regarding his potential dismissal. He responded, “I am keeping my position. If the officials want me to stop working, I will leave. That’s football, and I’m not afraid of that.”
He added, regarding the team’s exit from the Arab Cup, “The Saudi national team has been absent from tournaments since 2003, so this isn’t my problem at all. We tried to reach the final and win the title, but luck wasn’t on our side. The question is, why hasn’t the Green Falcons won any titles in the last 22 years?”
He continued, “I’ve given my opinion, but ultimately, I’m just the national team coach, and my duty is to achieve the best possible results.”
He concluded, “I’m confident that someone will be responsible for determining the future of Saudi football. The talent is there, but more effort must be made to utilize it optimally.”
It’s worth noting that Saudi media outlets have confirmed that the Saudi Arabian Football Federation will hold a crucial meeting with Renard upon his return to Saudi Arabia after the UAE match. During this meeting, the World Cup qualifiers and the Arab Cup will be analyzed, and a final decision will be made regarding his continued tenure with the national team in the World Cup or his immediate dismissal.
