In exchanging his role as the manager of Saudi Arabia men for the equivalent post with France women, Hervé Renard took a 75% pay cut. Given that the 54-year-old, who guided the Saudis to an astounding 2-1 World Cup group-stage win against Argentina at Qatar 2022, remains a hero in the Gulf Kingdom, that move surprised many fellow coaches.
Renard, though, is not motivated purely by money and could not resist the challenge of attempting to steer his long underachieving female compatriots to a first World Cup triumph. But four months into the job the one time Cambridge United manager may be forgiven for fearing it represents something of a tall order.
