Olivier Renard

Olivier Renard
Personal information
Full name Olivier Renard
Date of birth (1979-05-24) 24 May 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Haine-Saint-Paul, Belgium
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
RSC Anderlecht (Sporting director)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1999 Charleroi 5 (0)
1999–2005 Udinese 0 (0)
2000–2001Charleroi (loan) 8 (0)
2004Modena (loan) 6 (0)
2005Napoli (loan) 2 (0)
2005–2008 Standard Liège 40 (0)
2007–2008Mechelen (loan) 17 (0)
2008–2013 Mechelen 119 (0)
2013Charleroi (loan) 0 (0)
International career
1997 Belgium U18 4 (0)
1997–1998 Belgium U19 13 (0)
2000–2002 Belgium U21 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Olivier Renard (born 24 May 1979) is a retired Belgian football goalkeeper who works as Sporting Director for RSC Anderlecht.

Career

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Born in Haine-Saint-Paul in the city of La Louvière, Renard started his playing career as professional with Charleroi in 1996, moving to Udinese in 1999, but in six years at the Serie A club, never played once for them in the league, being loaned out to Charleroi again, Modena and Napoli.[1]

Renard returned to Belgium with Standard Liège, playing 40 times for the Rouches across the next two seasons, moving to Mechelen on loan during the 2007-08 season, making the move permanent the following year. Renard featured for Standard during their Championship-winning season of 2007-08.[2] After five years at Achter de Kazerne, Renard announced his retirement at the age of 34.[1]

In the 2007–2008 season he finished runner-up to youngster Kenny Steppe for the Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

International Career

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Renard featured in Belgium squads at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship where he was second goalkeeper behind Jean-François Gillet. [3][4][5][6]

Together with Carl Hoefkens, Tom Caluwé, Cédric Roussel and Gillet, Renard went on to be called up for the Belgian national team.

First selected in 2008 by René Vandereycken, Renard was called-up 11 times for the Belgian national squad as understudy for Stijn Stijnen, but never got on the pitch. Contemporaries Brian Vandenbussche and Davy Schollen in contrast did end up playing for the Red Devils. After Stijnen finished playing for Belgium, Renard's chance was lost through suffering a number of injuries, with Gillet, Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet becoming regular starters, sending Renard down to fourth-in-line.

In May 2012, he was selected for the last time in his professional career by national coach Marc Wilmots.

Management career

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Having finished his playing career there, Renard was appointed KV Mechelen sporting director in January 2014.[7] He left the club in February 2016, to join Standard Liège, still as sporting director.[8] From the summer 2018, he became the head of scouting instead of sporting director.[9] He left the club by mutual consent on 20 May 2019.[10]

In June 2019, he was hired as a sports consultant at Royal Antwerp.[11] He left the club again on 29 September 2019, where it was announced that Renard had signed with Major League Soccer club Montreal Impact, now CF Montréal, as the sporting director.[12]

On June 9, 2022, CF Montréal elevated Olivier Renard to vice president and chief sporting officer in a new agreement for an indefinite period. Rather than signing a new contract, Renard was made a permanent employee of the club. He left in May 2024.[1] [13]

On October 30, 2024, Renard returned to Belgium after five years away, being named Sporting Director at RSC Anderlecht, succeeding Sports CEO Jesper Fredberg.[14][15][16]

Controversies

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Renard's name emerged in relation to the Operation Clean Hands investigation into Belgian football, in connection with his time at Standard Liege. Renard denied all allegations, and has yet to be charged in relation to the probe.[1][14]

Honours

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Standard Liège

KV Mechelen

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Voormalig doelman Olivier Renard opvolger van CEO Sports Jesper Fredberg bij Anderlecht" [Former goalkeeper Olivier Renard succeeds CEO Sports Jesper Fredberg at Anderlecht]. Bruzz.nl (in Dutch). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Olivier Renard - Stats and titles won". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. ^ "FIFA World Youth Championship Malaysia 1997 - Matches - Uruguay 3-0 Belgium". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  4. ^ "FIFA World Youth Championship Malaysia 1997 - Matches - Morocco 1-1 Belgium". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  5. ^ "FIFA World Youth Championship Malaysia 1997 - Matches - Malaysia 0-3 Belgium". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  6. ^ "History: Greece 1-2 Belgium, UEFA Under-21 2002". UEFA.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  7. ^ Olivier Renard assistent sportief directeur bij KV Mechelen, hln.be, 23 December 2013
  8. ^ Standard schuift Lawarée opzij, Olivier Renard nieuwe sportief directeur, hln.be, 17 February 2016
  9. ^ Standard wuift aanbod op doelman weg, telegraaf.nl, 11 August 2018
  10. ^ Le Standard et Olivier Renard se séparent, rtbf.be, 20 May 2019
  11. ^ Renard wordt sportief adviseur bij Antwerp, sport.be, 4 June 2019
  12. ^ "Olivier Renard named Montreal Impact sporting director". Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  13. ^ "CF Montréal and Olivier Renard announce the end of their association". Montreal Impact. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Wegen van Anderlecht en Jesper Fredberg scheiden, Olivier Renard nieuwe sportief directeur bij paars-wit" [Anderlecht and Jesper Fredberg part ways, Olivier Renard new sporting director at Mauves] (in Dutch). VRT Sporza. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Olivier Renard ziet Anderlecht als opportuniteit en stelt geen grote financiële eisen: "Ik wil de club bedanken voor het vertrouwen"" [Olivier Renard sees Anderlecht as an opportunity and does not make major financial demands: “I would like to thank the club for its confidence”] (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  16. ^ ""Moeilijke transferzomer heeft druk gezet op de relatie": Anderlecht-voorzitter Wouter Vandenhaute over vertrek Fredberg en komst Renard" [“Difficult transfer summer has put pressure on the relationship”: Anderlecht chairman Wouter Vandenhaute on Fredberg's departure and Renard's arrival] (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  17. ^ Olivier Renard at Soccerway. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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