Herve Renard applies for Ivory Coast job

Frenchman Hervé Renard has submitted his CV for Ivory Coast’s vacant coaching post and appears to be one of the top favourites for the job, according to sources close to the Ivorian FA. The 45-year-old former defender has been out of job since quitting French team Sochaux last season. Renard holds most of the credentials demanded by Ivorian officials for the job, including command of the French language, a former post at a club or a national team and some experience in African football. Renard won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia against the Elephants after a nerve-racking penalty shootout in Libreville, Gabon. The FA set up a committee last month to urgently recruit a new coach ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign set for early September. A shortlist of five candidates will be published later this week, according to the body. Coach Sabri Lamouchi left the team after Ivory Coast failed to progress from the group stage at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.