Coach steps down from Ivory Coast job

undefinedof Lille, Herve Renard has stepped down as Ivory Coast coach ahead of his move to the Ligue 1 club.

The 46-year-old coach was on Friday, May 22 announced as replacement for Lille's outgoing head coach, Rene Girard who undefined.

Renard who won the 2015 African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast said it was his best moment to end the association with the West African country.

"My adventure with Ivory Coast was exceptional. And I sincerely think that the best moment to end our collaboration is after such a success," he told reporters during a press conference at Abidjan.

"In all likelihood, I'm going to Lille barring a catastrophe.

"I hope that my future club will allow me to advance to another level, and I hope, like any self-respecting coach, to one day participate in the Champions League," Renard revealed.

Ivory Coast signed Renard to a two-year contract in August 2014.

"We thank Mr Renard for our collaboration, for the work he did at the head of the national team,' said Pierre Gondo, spokesman for the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).

"We expressed to him our regret to see this collaboration end so soon."