Herve Renard: Ivory Coast manager has agreed to leave his role early

Herve Renard has resigned as manager of Ivory Coast and is expected to join French club Lille.

Renard, 46, guided the Ivorians to the Africa Cup of Nations title in February, replicating the feat he achieved with Zambia in 2012.

The Ivory Coast Football Federation will end the Frenchman’s contract early to enable him to return to Ligue 1, where he was briefly in charge of Sochaux in 2013-14 but was unable to prevent them from being relegated.

Renard was appointed Ivory Coast coach in July last year and ended the west African nation's long title drought by winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea in February, beating Ghana in a penalty shootout in what was Ivory Coast's second continental title and first in 23 years.

He is the only coach to win the African title with two different countries.

"My adventure with Ivory Coast was exceptional. And I sincerely think that the best moment to end our collaboration is after such a success," said Renard.

"In all likelihood, I'm going to Lille barring a catastrophe.

"I hope that my future club will allow me to advance to another level, and I hope, like any self-respecting coach, to one day participate in the European Champions League."