'Just Two Months Before the World Cup' Saudi Arabia Officially Announces National Team Coach Change → Appoints Local League Expert

*This content was translated by AI.

A nation just over two months away from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America has taken the drastic step of dismissing its head coach. Saudi Arabia has fired Hervé Renard (57), the coach who led the team to a historic victory over defending champion Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and has unexpectedly appointed Georgios Donis (56), an expert in the Saudi league, as the new manager.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation officially announced the dismissal of coach Renard and the appointment of coach Donis through its official channels on the 24th (Korean time).

This is shocking news. According to major foreign media outlets including 'Arab News' and 'ESPN', the Saudi Federation made this decision to improve the team's quality even though less than 60 days remain until the World Cup kickoff.

As a result, Renard's second tenure as Saudi Arabia's head coach ended in just half a year. Coach Renard, who won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, had previously written history by defeating Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champions, 2-1. Afterward, he led the France women's national team to the 2024 Paris Olympics and made an unexpected return as Saudi Arabia's head coach in October of the same year, succeeding Roberto Mancini.

However, his performance after returning was dismal. The team suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat to Egypt in a friendly match and lost 1-2 to Serbia, among other results below expectations, leading to calls for his dismissal. Rumors of his firing had already surfaced on the 17th via 'RMC Sport' and 'AFP', and Renard himself acknowledged them. The Saudi Federation confirmed that the contract termination was by mutual agreement, and Renard ultimately stepped down without managing a turnaround ahead of the World Cup.

The newly appointed coach Donis is a former Greek national team player. His contract runs until July 2027. According to 'Saudi Gazette', Coach Donis is a strategist with extensive experience in both European football and the Saudi Pro League. He has managed prestigious Greek clubs including AEK Athens and PAOK FC, and has also coached four clubs in Saudi Arabia: Al Hilal, Al Wehda, Al Fateh, and most recently Al Qadsiah.

In particular, Coach Donis has also proven himself as a trophy-winning specialist. He won the 2013–2014 Cypriot League and Cup double, and in Saudi Arabia, he lifted numerous trophies including the 2015 King's Cup, the 2015–2016 Crown Prince Cup (now King's Cup), and the 2015 Super Cup. The Saudi Football Federation stated, "Coach Donis has the ability to quickly adapt to the team based on his experience in the Saudi league," and emphasized that he is "the right person to help the team land safely ahead of a major international tournament."

This appointment coincides with a major overhaul of Saudi football administration. The coaching change comes shortly after reports emerged that Matt Crocker, Sports Director of the U.S. Soccer Federation, is moving to the Saudi Federation. The Saudi Federation plans to hold a press conference in Riyadh soon with the new coaching staff and will announce specific plans before departing for the final training camp in the United States.

Saudi Arabia has been drawn into Group H for this North American World Cup alongside Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. Starting with their first match against Uruguay on June 15, they will face a series of strong opponents in succession.

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*This content was translated by AI.