Renard is growing in popularity in among Zambia football fans
When the Football Association of Zambia (Faz) appointed Herve Renard as Chipolopolo head coach last May, very few people gave him any chance at success.
Perhaps this pessimism towards the Frenchman, a former physical trainer of Ghana's Black Stars, was justified.
The Zambia job is his first high-profile position after coaching obscure clubs like SC Draguinan and AS Cherbourg in France.
His coaching journey has also taken him via Shanghai Shenhua of China and lower league English club, Cambridge United.
But the 40-year-old is slowly becoming a household name in Zambia after guiding the Chipolopolo to a third-place finish at the inaugural African Nations Championship in Ivory Coast.
The team also produced the top scorer at the tournament for home-based players as well as the best goal of the competition.
More recently, Renard won praise from Chipolopolo fans after Zambia's 1-1 draw against African champions Egypt in a World Cup qualifier in Cairo.
Renard is determined to make a name in Zambia.
But why is he succeeding with Zambian players after failing in France, Asia and England?
"Zambian players are very skilful and they are not afraid to play against anybody," he says.
"But the secret for my success so far is the wonderful team spirit I have managed to build among my players.
"Our force and strength lies in the team spirit."
Given Singuluma was top scorer at CHAN under Renard's guidance
Coincidentally, 'Renard' is French for a fox - a very clever and cunning animal.
Yet the human Renard does not want to be compared to the animal based on his good results with Zambia so far.
"I don't know if I should be compared to a fox yet. Only God knows," he chuckles.
"Maybe that comparison should come after six months because we would have known our fate in the qualifiers."
Zambia's next games in the joint 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifying series are against Rwanda and Algeria in June.
Renard remains confident he can go all the way and qualify the Chipolopolo for their first World Cup finals.
"I am confident about myself. I was not afraid to play against Egypt and I think the players are also confident of themselves," he said.
"We are not afraid of anybody because we know our values."
Renard would cement his reputation among Zambia fans forever if he is successful in taking to Zambia to the World Cup in South Africa next year.
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