Thursday 31 July 2014 16:40, UK
Herve Renard, who guided outsiders Zambia to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations title, has been named the new coach of Ivory Coast.
Frenchman Renard, 45, succeeds his compatriot Sabri Lamouchi, who stood down from the job after suffering a last-gasp group stage elimination at the hands of Greece in the World Cup.
Renard, whose appointment was confirmed by the Ivorian Football Federation on Thursday, will now team up with notable Premier League players including Manchester City's Yaya Touré, Liverpool's Kolo Touré, Swansea's Wilfried Bony and Chelsea's returning striker Didier Drogba.
He has been tasked with a simple mission, to finally secure the continental crown after years of failure despite a talented group of players.
Ivory Coast were beaten by eventual winners Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations last year in South Africa.
Renard returns to Africa after a brief spell with French club Sochaux, who were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of last season.
He won the race to take over Ivory Coast from a shortlist of candidates which included former French international Luis Fernandez.
Renard will officially start preparing the Ivorians for the 2015 Nations Cup in September.
