Ivory Coast's fate was sealed after they lost their opening two matches, but they picked up a consolation 3-2 win over Serbia and Montenegro.

The Frenchman, who will join an unnamed club in Qatar, said: "I took on the Ivory Coast coaching job for the challenges it would give me.

"I have taken a lot of hits to the face from critics, but that is the game."

Michel, 58, added: "However, I know that I can still look myself in the mirror in the morning."

Michel, who took France to the 1986 World Cup semi-finals and has also led Cameroon and Morocco to the World Cup finals, has been criticised for not ensuring the Elephants fulfilled their potential in Germany.

But he leaves the job having seen them secure a first World Cup win in their debut tournament.

They were helped in their comeback by the dismissal of Albert Nadj, just before half-time, and completed the turnaround when Bonaventure Kalou scored from the penalty spot following an Aruna Dindane brace.

But Michel says the team must address their defensive naivety if they are to make an impact on the international game.

"I'm satisfied as we finally won, but once again we had the same problems - instead of letting in two goals in 20 minutes it was two goals in 10," he added.

"It's a weakness in the team and we always have to create a lot of chances to score one or two goals.

"At this level that's not good enough and if the Ivory Coast wants to be competitive at this level we must sort out this sort of problem.

"Ivory Coast has potential, that's nothing new. We have always had attacking strength but some players were not at the right level.

"We need to find the right players to find the right system."

Michel, who has already coached in the Gulf having been in charge of the United Arab Emirates, would not comment on his new club.