Renard's Morocco were one of the favourites for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. After emerging with maximum points from the group stages, they lost on 5 July in the last 16 to Benin following a penalty shoot-out.
Just over two weeks after that defeat, Renard resigned. “For me, Morocco will always remain a country with which I experienced incredible emotions?” Renard said on social media. “Thanks to the players, the staff, the fans, the honest journalists.”
Since coming to the fore in 2008 as Claude Leroy's assistant in Ghana, Renard has carved out a reputation as a shrewd tactician.
Winner.
Three years later he steered Cote d'Ivoire to the crown to become the first man to win two championships with two different teams.
Yasser Almisehal, the head of the Saudi Football Federation, said: "The choice was made on a great name, capable of bringing something extra to Saudi football".
Renard's first game in charge will be at the West Asian Football Federation Championship in Iraq on 4 August where his new charges will take on Kuwait in Group B before further pool matches against Bahrain and Jordan.
It is less than two weeks after quitting as head coach of Morocco's national team that the renown trainer has landed a new job.