Renard among names on Ivory Coast coach shortlist

Africa Cup of Nations winner Herve Renard is among five people being considered by Ivory Coast to become their new national team coach.

Renard, who coached Zambia to the title in 2012, is joined on the list by fellow Frenchmen Luis Fernandez Francis Gillot, Frederic Antonetti and Portuguese Manuel Jose.

The shortlist was put together from a list of 37 prospective candidates.
A decision is expected to be announced by the end of July.

The new man will take over from Sabri Lamouchi, whose two-year contract was not renewed after the country failed to reach the second round at the World Cup in Brazil.

In September, the Ivorians begin the qualifiers for next year's Nations Cup in Morocco.

The 45-year-old Renard ended his second spell as Zambia coach in October 2013 to take over at French club Sochaux for the second half of the Ligue 1 season.

He was unable to prevent the struggling club from being relegated and has endured a tough start to the role.

Jose also has extensive experience of coaching in Africa, having won four African Champions League titles during his time at Egyptian club Al Ahly.

Former France international Fernandez, who won 60 caps and a European Championship title with his country, last worked as national team coach of Israel but has been a radio pundit for the last three years.

Gillot was coach of Girondins Bordeaux last season while Antonetti has had a long career as a coach in Ligue 1, most recently with Stade Rennes.

At the start of July Italian Giovanni Trapattoni told an Italian radio station that he was in talks over the job but a week later Ivory Coast invited coaches to declare their interest in the job, giving a deadline of 14 July for applications to be submitted.