Renard quits Ivory Coast, expected to join Lille

Herve Renard talking to Gervinho. (Sunday Alamba/AP)

ABIDJAN, Cote d’Ivoire — Herve Renard has quit as Ivory Coast coach three months after leading the team to the African Cup of Nations title.

The Ivory Coast Football Federation said Friday it had agreed to end the Frenchman’s contract early. Renard has been linked with the head coach role at Lille with current boss Rene Girard due to leave at the end of the season.

Renard was appointed Ivory Coast coach in July last year and ended the West African nation’s long title drought by winning the African Cup in Equatorial Guinea in February. It was Ivory Coast’s second continental title and first in 23 years. The victory was also Renard’s second Cup of Nations success as a coach after leading Zambia to victory in 2012.

The Ivorian federation said Renard was expected to join Lille.

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