Lille names Ivory Coast manager Renard new coach

Herve Renard won two African Cups with the Ivory Coast and Zambia. (Sunday Alamba/AP)

LILLE, France — Former Ivory Coast manager Herve Renard has been named as new coach of Lille, the French first-division club said Monday.

Earlier this year, the 46-year-old Frenchman led the Ivory Coast to its first African Cup of Nations title since 1992, three years after leading unheralded Zambia to the African Cup.

Renard, who also had a brief spell coaching Sochaux toward the end of the 2013-14 season, takes over from Rene Girard, who recently left by mutual consent after two seasons with the club.

Lille finished in eighth place this season.

Renard, who has agreed a three-year contract, says "it’s an honour to join a club as prestigious as Lille" and "I can’t wait to begin this adventure" with my squad.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.