Fernandez tops Ivory Coast coach shortlist

Ivory Coast's Gervinhom left, and Didier Drogba celebrate a goal by teammate Wilfried Bony against Japan. Photo: Stefano Rellandini

Ivory Coast's Gervinhom left, and Didier Drogba celebrate a goal by teammate Wilfried Bony against Japan. Photo: Stefano Rellandini

Published Jul 22, 2014

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London - Four Frenchmen, including former international Luis Fernandez, have been named on a shortlist of five prospective candidates to take over as national coach of the Ivory Coast, the country's football federation said.

Francis Gillot, Frederic Antonetti, Herve Renard and Fernandez are joined on the shortlist by Manuel Jose, the Portuguese coach who won four African Champions League titles during his time at Egyptian club Al Ahli.

The shortlist was put together from a list of 37 prospective candidates, unusually all named on the Ivorian Football Federation's website (www.fif-ci.com).

A decision on the new coach must now be taken by the federation's executive committee, who have previously promised to announce their final choice by the end of the month.

Fernandez, who won 60 caps and a European Championship title with France, last worked as national team coach of Israel but has been a radio pundit for the last three years.

Renard won the African Nations Cup with Zambia two years ago but last season, failed to save Sochaux from relegation from Ligue 1 after being brought in for the second half of the campaign.

Gillot was coach of Girondins Bordeaux last season while Antonetti has had a long career as a coach in Ligue 1, most recently with Stade Rennes.

The new Ivory Coast coach will take over from Sabri Lamouchi, whose two-year contract was not renewed after the country failed to reach the second round at the World Cup in Brazil.

In September, the Ivorians begin the qualifiers for next year's Nations Cup in Morocco.

Reuters

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