Herve Renard resigns from Ivory Coast to take charge of Lille

Herve Renard has resigned as Ivory Coast manager and is expected to take charge at Lille.

The French club confirmed earlier this week that Rene Girard will leave the club by mutual consent at the end of the season after two years at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Renard has been touted as his successor for some time, and the Ivory Coast Football Federation will end his contract early to enable him to return to Ligue 1.

The 46-year-old has won consecutive Africa Cup of Nations titles, lifting it with the Elephants in 2014 two years after guiding minnows Zambia to the crown.

The Frenchman was briefly in charge of Sochaux in 2013-14, but was unable to save them from relegation.