RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Herve Renard was hired to coach Saudi Arabia for a second time on Saturday, two days after Roberto Mancini resigned.
“I'm back,” Renard said in a social media video posted by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation.
The Frenchman most recently coached France women to the Paris Olympics quarterfinals.
He was previously in charge of Saudi Arabia from 2019-23, a tenure that included a famous 2-1 win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“I did not intend to leave (Saudi). But when your country knocks on your door you have to respond,” Renard said. “My connection with Saudi, the fans, the players and all the memories — I can never forget. I did not finish my story with Saudi.”
Renard's contract will run until the end of 2025 with an option to extend until the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Mancini was hired by Saudi Arabia in August 2023 having led Italy to victory at the 2021 European Championship. But the serial trophy winner was quickly under pressure after an underwhelming Asian Cup in January and an exit in the round of 16.
In Asia's third round of World Cup qualifying that started in September, Saudi Arabia has collected just five points from four games. This month at home it lost to Japan 2-0 and drew with Bahrain 0-0.
It left Saudi third place in the six-team group. The top two qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup while the third- and fourth-placed finishers progress to the fourth stage.
Renard’s first game back in charge is against Australia in Melbourne on Nov. 14.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - France's head coach Herve Renard stands on the sidelines before a women's quarterfinal soccer match between France and Brazil, at La Beaujoire Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aug. 3, 2024, in Nantes, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Some of New York's biggest basketball heroes were second-round draft picks.
Like Jalen Brunson, the guy marching through Manhattan with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in his arms last week during a joyous parade celebration. And Willis Reed, the guy who limped into Game 7 of the NBA Finals to lift the Knicks to their first championship.
So when the NBA draft resumed Wednesday night with the Knicks on the clock with the No. 31 pick, every team had hope of finding someone who can be a key piece of a title team.
They drafted Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton, but had already agreed to trade the rights to the pick to Houston by the time NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum announced the selection.
Thornton was given a Knicks hat when his name was announced. He was wearing a Rockets one by the time he arrived for his interviews.
He was just happy to get to the NBA, even if it was in Texas and not with the new champions.
“No state tax, so that's even better,” said Thornton, Ohio State's career scoring leader.
The first round, which began with Washington selecting AJ Dybantsa, finished late Tuesday night.
In a much different NBA with a different draft format, Reed was the No. 8 pick in the 1964 draft, which made him the first pick of the second round. The Hall of Famer went on to lead the Knicks to championships in 1970 and 1973 and was the NBA Finals MVP both times.
Brunson was the No. 33 pick in the 2018 draft, taken early in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks signed him as a free agent in 2022 and the franchise hs been on the rise ever since, culminating with their five-game victory over the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month when Brunson was MVP of the series.
Among the other well-known names taken early in the second round were Richie Saunders, Dybantsa's BYU teammate who was taken at No. 32 by Memphis; Duke's Isaiah Evans, who went undrafted in the first round and was selected at No. 33 with a pick belonging to Minnesota; and Purdue's Braden Smith, the NCAA's career assists leader, who was taken at No. 38 by Chicago.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Meleek Thomas, right, poses for a photo with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jack Kayil, right, poses for a photo with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Bruce Thornton waves after being selected by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Bruce Thornton poses for a photo with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
