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Emerse Fae, once considered a Premier League flop, has now been tasked with rejuvenating the Ivory Coast's African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign.
Despite his underwhelming stint at Reading, Fae's new role as the head coach of the national team positions him at the forefront of a crucial moment in Ivorian football.
Fae's Rise from Premier League Obscurity to National Coach
Fae's journey to this pivotal role has been far from conventional. After joining Reading from Nantes in 2007 for a then club-record fee of £2.5million, he struggled to make an impact, featuring in only 11 games as Reading faced relegation in 2008.
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14:45 - 26.01.2024
AFCON Herve Renard reveals why Ivory Coast failed in their bid to ‘loan’ him
Renard confirmed the reports that Ivory Coast had bid to loan the two-time AFCON-winning coach from the French Women’s team ahead of their Round of 16 clash against Senegal.
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21:18 - 25.01.2024
AFCON 2023: How Ivory Coast can defeat defending champions, Senegal
Ivory Coast will face defending champions Senegal in the Round of 16 at AFCON 2023, a matchup that is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated of the tournament.
His return to France with Nice marked the end of his brief and uneventful time in English football. Despite these setbacks, Fae, 40, who earned 41 caps for his country, transitioned into coaching, leading him to the assistant manager role for the Ivory Coast.
His elevation to the head coach position came following the dismissal of Jean-Louis Gasset, with the Elephants teetering on the edge of AFCON elimination.
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Ivory Coast's Challenging Path Ahead in AFCON
The team's fortunes in the tournament took a turn for the better when Morocco's victory over Zambia kept the hosts in contention.
Fae now faces the daunting task of preparing his team for a crucial clash against the current champions, Senegal. "We were really disappointed with our own results, and afraid of not progressing in our home tournament," Fae admitted as reported by the Sun.
He emphasized the need for humility and focus, saying, "Expectations weighed heavily on us, but now there is less weight on our shoulders. We must focus on Senegal. They are a good side, and we must repay our fans."
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Fae's appointment comes after a career hindered by health issues, culminating in his retirement in 2012 due to leg vein problems.
In a surprising twist, the Ivory Coast Football Federation attempted to bring Hervé Renard, the renowned coach of the France Women's national team, on loan for the remainder of the tournament.
Renard, famous for his achievements with Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup and leading Ivory Coast to their last AFCON victory in 2015, was a top choice. However, negotiations with the French Federation fell through, as confirmed by Renard to Canal Plus: "The negotiations did not finish favourably, it's because it shouldn't have been. I'd have loved it but fate chose otherwise."
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