Saudi Star Slams Renard: Is the Coach Still Worth Leading the Green?

Backdrop and Controversy

Abdoh Atif, a former Saudi football star, unleashed a sharp critique of French coach Hervé Renard, arguing he does not deserve to lead the national team after belittling Saudi football.

Renard had responded to recent criticism following Saudi Arabia's exit from the Arab Cup semifinals, saying the Greens had not won a title since 2003.

Atif's Counterpoint

In an interview on Al Arabiya, Atif said: "Renard is smart; he knows how to ride the waves, when to leave, and when to return. He left the national team after the win against Argentina because he knew he would not add anything new."

He added: "True, the Saudis haven't won a title in 23 years, but their level under Renard was better than what they're showing now."

He continued: "If the head of the pyramid blames others, he doesn't deserve to be captain, because a captain carries responsibility, and coaches always shoulder it."

He concluded: "Renard's remark belittles Saudi football, as if saying you were failures before I arrived."

And to lighten the mood, he might have added, with a sly grin, that not all leadership comes with a trophy—some come with excellent press conferences and a knack for finding fans on every social media platform.

Punchline note: If Renard’s leadership were a sniper shot, it would be a high-arc pass to nowhere. And if GPS had a football mode, it would say, “Are you sure you want to lead?”—still recalibrating Renard’s route to the goal.