Wendie Thérèse Renard (born 20 July 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and captains both Première Ligue club Lyon and the France national team.

Wendie Renard
Renard in 2019
Personal information
Full name Wendie Thérèse Renard[1]
Date of birth (1990-07-20) 20 July 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Schœlcher, Martinique, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Lyon
Number 3
Youth career
1997–2005 Essor-Préchotain
2005–2006 Rapid Club du Lorrain
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006– Lyon 296 (97)
International career
2007–2009 France U19 18 (0)
2008–2010 France U20 7 (0)
2011– France 165 (39)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 October 2024

Renard is one of the most decorated players in modern women's club football. She has won a record 14 French league titles and eight European Cups. In 2019, the New York Times described her as an "institution" at Lyon, the most successful club in European women's football.[2]

Early life

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Renard was born in Martinique, a French island in the Lesser Antilles. She is the youngest of four daughters. Her father died of lung cancer when she was eight years old.[3] Prior to moving to the mainland, Renard played for Essor-Préchotain on her home island.

When she was 15, Renard flew to mainland France for a trial at Clairefontaine but was not accepted into the national training program.[3] She subsequently took the train to Lyon and, after a more successful trial, landed a spot with Lyon. She left Martinique to permanently live in Lyon at the age of sixteen.[3]

Club career

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Renard made her debut at L'Essor Préchotin at the age of seven and then played for Rapid Club Le Lorrain.[4] In 2006, Farid Benstiti, then coach of Olympique Lyon, brought Wendie Renard into the club's youth center and used the 16-year-old in two league games in the top league at the end of the same season. Three months later she was called up to the youth national team for the first time.

Renard joined Lyon in 2006 and, since the 2007–08 season, has been a regular within the starting eleven winning fourteen consecutive league titles from 2006 to 2020, as well numerous Challenge de France trophies. In 2010, Renard featured in the final match of the UEFA Women's Champions League and, in the 2010–11 edition, helped Lyon win the competition. She scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win over Turbine Potsdam in the final.

On 26 August 2020, she scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals,[5] to eventually win the competition for the seventh time in her career.

International career

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Renard is a former youth international having played at under-19 and under-20 level. She made her debut for the France national team at the 2011 Cyprus Cup in a match against Switzerland. Renard has since represented France in two FIFA World Cups and two Olympics, and was the team captain from September 2013.[6] She was stripped of the captaincy after the Euro 2017 tournament and was ultimately succeeded by Amandine Henry.[7] Renard regained the captaincy in September 2021.[8]

At the 2019 World Cup on home soil, Renard scored three goals in the group stage: a brace against South Korea and a penalty against Nigeria. She also scored an own goal against Norway.[9] Renard scored a consolation goal in France's 2–1 quarter-final defeat to the United States.[10] The 6 foot 2 inch-tall defender was the tallest player at that edition of the World Cup.[11]

On 24 February 2023, Renard announced she would not play at the World Cup later that year to "preserve her mental health".[12] According to a report in French multimedia outlet RMC Sport, Renard had decided not play for the national team as long as then-coach Corinne Diacre was in charge.[13] After Diacre was sacked in early March 2023, Renard said she was open to a return to the team if selected.[14] When Herve Renard (no relation) succeeded Diacre as France's head coach at the end of March, he immediately invited Renard to rejoin the national squad.[15]

Renard accepted the invitation to resume playing for France and serving as captain. In France's second match of the 2023 FIFA World Cup group stage, she scored the winning goal against Brazil.[16] In the quarterfinals of the World Cup tournament, France saw a goal called back after Renard was charged with a jersey-pulling foul on an Australian player, and ultimately lost to Australia in a penalty kick shoot-out.[17]

Style of play

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Renard is physically strong, has good pace and technique, and she is capable of scoring powerful headers.[citation needed]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 20 October 2024[18][19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lyon 2006–07 Division 1 Féminine 2 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
2007–08 14 2 3 1 6 2 23 5
2008–09 19 2 3 0 4 0 26 2
2009–10 20 6 3 0 9 0 32 6
2010–11 20 2 3 0 9 3 32 5
2011–12 20 9 4 1 8 1 32 11
2012–13 13 3 6 2 7 3 26 8
2013–14 19 7 6 1 4 0 29 8
2014–15 21 10 4 1 4 1 29 12
2015–16 15 6 3 4 6 1 24 11
2016–17 16 6 4 0 8 2 28 8
2017–18 17 5 5 3 8 4 30 12
2018–19 17 8 4 2 9 4 30 14
2019–20 14 7 5 2 6 5 1[a] 0 26 14
2020–21 20 10 1 1 5 4 26 15
2021–22 16 2 2 2 9 3 27 7
2022–23 21 7 5 1 8 0 0[a] 0 34 8
2023–24 14 6 0 0 6 0 1[a] 0 21 6
2024–25 4 1 0 0 2 1 0[a] 0 6 2
Career total 302 99 62 21 118 34 2 0 484 154
  1. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in the Trophée des Championnes.

International

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As of match played 29 October 2024[20][21]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
France 2011 13 1
2012 19 5
2013 14 9
2014 14 1
2015 15 1
2016 9 1
2017 14 1
2018 6 1
2019 14 4
2020 4 1
2021 4 4
2022 13 4
2023 16 4
2024 10 2
Total 165 39
Scores and results list France's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Renard goal.
List of international goals scored by Wendie Renard
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 20 November 2011 Stade Pierre-Aliker, Fort-de-France, Martinique   Mexico 5–0 5–0 Friendly
2 1 March 2012 GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus   Finland 1–2 1–2 2012 Cyprus Cup
3 31 March 2012 Stade Jules Deschaseaux, Le Havre, France   Scotland 2–0 2–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying
4 19 July 2012 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France   Japan 2–0 2–0 Friendly
5 28 July 2012 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland   North Korea 4–0 5–0 2012 Summer Olympics
6 3 August 2012   Sweden 1–2 1–2
7 15 July 2013 Idrottsparken, Norrköping, Sweden   Spain 0–1 0–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2013
8 19 July 2013 Linköping Arena, Linköping, Sweden   England 3–0 3–0
9 20 September 2013 Stade Robert Bobin, Bondoufle, France   Czech Republic 1–0 2–0 Friendly
10 25 October 2013 Stade Pierre Brisson, Beauvais, France   Poland 2–0 6–0
11 31 October 2013 Sonnensee Stadion, Ritzing, Austria   Austria 1–3 1–3 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
12 23 November 2013 Lovech Stadium, Lovech, Bulgaria   Bulgaria 0–5 0–10
13 0–6
14 27 November 2013 MMArena, Le Mans, France   Bulgaria 6–0 14–0
15 8–0
16 10 March 2014 GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus   Netherlands 0–3 0–3 2014 Cyprus Cup
17 19 September 2015 Stade Océane, Le Havre, France   Brazil 1–0 2–1 Friendly
18 16 July 2016 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France   China 2–0 3–0
19 1 March 2017 Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States   England 1–2 1–2 2017 SheBelieves Cup
20 10 November 2018 Allianz Riviera, Nice, France   Brazil 3–0 3–1 Friendly
21 7 June 2019 Parc des Princes, Paris, France   South Korea 2–0 4–0 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
22 3–0
23 17 June 2019 Roazhon Park, Rennes, France   Nigeria 0–1 0–1
24 28 June 2019 Parc des Princes, Paris, France   United States 2–1 2–1
25 27 November 2020 Stade du Roudourou, Guingamp, France   Austria 1–0 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying
26 20 February 2021 Stade Saint-Symphorien, Metz, France   Switzerland 1–0 2–0 Friendly
27 23 February 2021   Switzerland 1–0 2–0
28 2–0
29 17 September 2021 Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Patras, Greece   Greece 0–10 0–10 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
30 16 February 2022 Stade Océane, Le Havre   Finland 3–0 5–0 2022 Tournoi de France
31 5–0
32 22 February 2022   Netherlands 1–0 3–1
33 8 April 2022 Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales   Wales 0–1 1–2 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
34 18 February 2023 Stade Raymond Kopa, Angers, France   Uruguay 3–1 5–1 2023 Tournoi de France
35 29 July 2023 Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia   Brazil 2–1 2–1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
36 26 September 2023 Franz Horr Stadium, Vienna, Austria   Austria 0–1 0–1 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League
37 27 October 2023 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway   Norway 1–2 1–2
38 9 April 2024 Gamla Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden   Sweden 0–1 0–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying
39 25 October 2024 Stade Auguste-Bonal, Montbéliard, France   Jamaica 2–0 3–0 Friendly
Correct as of 29 October 2024[22]

Honours

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Renard with the UEFA Women's Champions League trophy after the 2019 final.

Lyon

France

Individual

Orders

Personal life

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Renard is a devout Roman Catholic who met Pope Francis in 2021.[46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of Players: France" (PDF). FIFA. 6 July 2015. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2020.
  2. ^ Clarey, Christopher (17 June 2019). "For Wendie Renard and France, Another Misstep and Another Win". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "Life at the End of the World". The Players' Tribune. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Wendie Renard, the high-flyer".
  5. ^ "Paris 0–1 Lyon". UEFA. 26 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Wendie Renard nommée capitaine des Bleues". Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Corinne Diacre a choisi Amandine Henry comme capitaine". L'Équipe. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Wendie Renard sur le capitanat : " J'ai surtout accepté par rapport au groupe France "". L'Équipe. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Renard own goal a reminder France need to keep feet on the ground". Reuters. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  10. ^ Wrack, Suzanne (28 June 2019). "Megan Rapinoe double sends USA past France and into England semi-final". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  11. ^ "The squads in stats". FIFA. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  12. ^ "France captain Renard takes 'step back' from team". BBC Sport. 24 February 2023.
  13. ^ "France captain Renard to skip World Cup to 'preserve mental health', Diani, Katoto step down". Reuters. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Wendie Renard ready to play for France again after Diacre's sacking". The Guardian. Reuters. 14 March 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Football: Wendie Renard called back to French women's national team by new coach". Le Monde. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Renard Clinches France's Win Over Brazil". VOA. 30 July 2023.
  17. ^ Pye, John (12 August 2023). "Australia edges France on penalties to reach Women's World Cup semifinals. Next up is England". Associated Press News. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Wendie Renard profile" (in French). olweb.fr. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Wendie Renard" (in French). footofeminin. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  20. ^ RENARD Wendie Archived 8 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine, French Football Federation, accessed 20 December 2014
  21. ^ "Equipe de France A – Wendie Renard" (in French). footofeminin. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  22. ^ "Footofeminin.fr – Equipe de France A – Wendie Renard". www.statsfootofeminin.fr.
  23. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Wolfsburg 1-1 Lyon | UEFA Women's Champions League 2015/16 Final". UEFA.com. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Women's Champions League final: Lyon 0-0 Paris St-Germain (7-6 pens)". BBC Sport. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  25. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Wolfsburg 1-4 Lyon | UEFA Women's Champions League 2017/18 Final". UEFA.com. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  26. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Lyon 4-1 Barcelona | UEFA Women's Champions League 2018/19 Final". UEFA.com. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  27. ^ Smyth, Rob (30 August 2020). "Women's Champions League final: Wolfsburg 1-3 Lyon – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  28. ^ Smyth, Rob; Magee, Will (21 May 2022). "Barcelona 1-3 Lyon: Women's Champions League final 2022 – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  29. ^ "Trophée des Championnes : Lyon win a historic new trophy against PSG". www.OL.fr. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  30. ^ "2015 FIFPro Award". Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  31. ^ "2016 FIFPro Award". Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  32. ^ "The FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11 of 2019–2020 – FIFPRO World Players' Union". FIFPRO. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  33. ^ "2020–2021 Women's FIFA FIFPRO World 11 Revealded". FIFPRO. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  34. ^ "Renard, Bronze and Morgan secure FIFPRO Women's 11 places". FIFA. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  35. ^ "THE IFFHS WOMEN WORLD TEAM 2017". IFFHS. 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  36. ^ "IFFHS AWARDS – THE WOMEN WORLD TEAM 2018". IFFHS. 1 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  37. ^ "IFFHS AWARDS 2019 – THE IFFHS WOMEN WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR 2019". IFFHS. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  38. ^ "IFFHS WORLD AWARDS 2020 – THE WINNERS". IFFHS. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  39. ^ "IFFHS WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR 2021". IFFHS. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  40. ^ "IFFHS WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM 2022". IFFHS. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  41. ^ "IFFHS WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM 2023". IFFHS. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  42. ^ "Wendie Renard named Women's Champions League Defender of the Season". UEFA. 1 October 2020.
  43. ^ "IFFHS WORLD'S WOMAN TEAM OF THE DECADE 2011–2020". IFFHS. 25 January 2021.
  44. ^ "IFHS WOMAN TEAM – UEFA – OF THE DECADE 2011–2020". IFFHS. 31 January 2021.
  45. ^ "Décret du 20 juin 2022 portant promotion et nomination dans l'ordre national du Mérite" [Decree of 20 June 2022 on promotion and appointment to the National Order of Merit]. Official Journal of the French Republic (in French). 2022 (142). 21 June 2022. PRER2203733D. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  46. ^ Tadié, Solène (13 September 2024). "French Women's Soccer Star: 'For Me, Faith Is a Powerful Compass'". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
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