Paulo Fonseca's potential exit from Olympique Lyonnais draws parallels to Hervé Renard's controversial French national team tenure, according to L'Équipe columnist Charlotte Lorgeré.
Fonseca's potential exit from Lyon
Paulo Fonseca may be leaving Olympique Lyonnais, a move that has drawn comparisons to Hervé Renard's time as head coach of the French national team, according to Charlotte Lorgeré, a former French international and columnist for L'Équipe. Lyon's imminent decision
Olympique Lyonnais is reportedly preparing to act on Fonseca's departure as the winter transfer period approaches, with the coach expected to accept an offer from Sporting. This decision has been widely covered in sports media. Renard's failed French tenure
Hervé Renard previously coached the French national team but failed to achieve the success expected of him. After disappointing results in the 2024 Olympics, Renard left the position, though his time with the team had not been well-received. Criticism of Renard's leadership
Lorgeré criticized Renard's tenure, saying he was supposed to "rebrand the French team" but that she viewed the appointment as a scandal from the beginning. She described his time in charge as a "disaster." Renard's career moves
Renard had previously told a journalist that he was open to leaving at any time, and he returned to the Saudi national team he had left a year and a half earlier to take charge of France. He was dismissed in April 2026, just over a year after his return. Renard's recent coaching roles
After being fired by France, Renard took on a role with Tunisia during the 2026 World Cup but left three weeks later after failing to qualify the team for the second round. He is now coaching the Ivory Coast national team.
