Cote D’Ivoire coach Herve Renard has been at the centre of a great deal of speculation concerning the possibility of taking over at various club sides and national teams, but the most recent rumour concerned the potential for the former Zambia coach to fill a position at French Ligue 1 club, Saint-Etienne.

French reports suggest that Renard may now be a strong contender to land the Saint-Etienne job if current manager Christophe Galtier resigns at the end of the season to take up one of a few offers that have been tabled for him.

The 46-year-old is the current CAF Coach of the Year following his success with Cote D’Ivoire at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), beating Ghana in the final thanks to a tense and entertaining penalty shootout.

The Frenchman became the first coach to win the Nations Cup with two different national teams, taking the title in 2012 with Zambia and then this year’s continental flagship competition in Equatorial Guinea with the Ivorians.

Reacting to the rumours concerning a return to France in order to coach in Ligue 1, Renard mentions that Saint-Etienne coach Galtier still has a year left in his current contract.

“It’s very simple. There is a coach who still has one year contract. For now, there is nothing to change. Until there is a decision on that, there is no need to speculate. For now, we must wait,” Renard told French newspaper, Le Dauphine.

“It needs to be something interesting for me to discuss with my [Ivory Coast] federation and see if it is possible,” he added.