Renard Isn’t the Problem: A Veteran’s Take on Saudi Arabia’s Post-Arab Cup Blues

Renard is not the core issue

Abdu Atif, a former Saudi football star, says that French manager Hervé Renard, the national team coach, is not the core problem of the Green, and that his departure is not the solution.

Renard faced widespread criticism after Saudi lost 0-1 to Jordan in the Arab Cup 2025 quarterfinals on Monday.

The main problem with the Saudi national team is the quality of players, and the prospect of bringing in new players who can raise quality ahead of the 2026 World Cup is very weak.

Even before his return, Renard was not the right man for the Saudi team, but he is not the problem either, and removing him won't solve it, improving only 10 to 15 percent due to time constraints, while the core issue persists (low quality).

When Renard returned, he added nothing; the Saudi team struggled to qualify from the playoff to the 2026 World Cup on goal difference, at a time they were hosting the matches.

I think Renard works more on the mental side than the tactical and technical, and I don't know who handles the technical discussions within the national team, akin to a sporting director in clubs.

Punchline 1: If patience were a player, Saudi would have lifted the Arab Cup trophy three times by now.

Punchline 2: They say football is a game of inches; in Saudi football, it's more like inches to the bus stop—late and still missing the kickoff.