- He is a former professional footballer
- He is currently the manager of the Ivory Coast national football team
- He took charge of Ivory Coast midway through the 2024 AFCON
Emerse Fae is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder and is currently a football manager for the Ivory Coast national football team he took charge of Ivory Coast midway through the 2024 AFCON.
Fae was brought in by the Ivory Coast Federation as a temporary replacement for Jean-Louis Gasset who was sacked with Ivory Coast on the brink of elimination in the group stages. Gasset’s sacking left the Elephants with slim hopes of progressing to the knockouts having also lost to Nigeria in another Group A fixture.
Fae was part of Gasset’s coaching staff and was appointed on an interim basis to lead the country for the remainder of the tournament. With little experience in football management, he emerged as Ivory Coast’s unlikely hero at the tournament as he helped the country win the continental showpiece dramatically.
The victory gave Ivory Coast their third title after 1992 and 1995 AFCON.
Emerse Fae Career Journey
The manager was born on January 24 1984 in Nantes, France to Ivorian parents. He started his career journey at a young age, playing for local clubs in the Paris region, impressed with his technical skills and athleticism, quickly caught the attention of scouts from professional clubs.
Emerse Fae. Photo/SportsDesk-Times of Malta
He joined FC Nantes Academy and spent four years rising through the ranks and eventually made his debut for the senior team at nineteen years old. During his playtime with the club, he helped them reach the Coupe de France final although they ultimately lost.
Fae then moved to England where he joined the English Premier League club Reading FC and became a vital member of the midfield, contributing to the club’s mid-table finishes.
Unfortunately, his career was interrupted by recurring blood clot issues, forcing him to miss significant periods of playtime. This saw him on loan at OGC Nice where he continued
showcasing his talent despite injury setbacks. The condition deteriorated and he was forced to prematurely retire from professional football at the age of 28 years.
Despite a short career, he left a mark on the footballing world with the ability to adapt to different leagues and roles.
Coaching Career
Following his retirement due to health reasons, Fae embarked on a coaching journey starting with the U19 team at his former club OGC Nice where he spent nine years progressing through their youth ranks. At this time, he gained player development and team management.
Fae took charge of the reserve team at Clermont Foot 63 in Ligue 2, marking his first venture outside his previous club environment. In 2022, he stepped onto the international stage, joining the Ivory Coast National team as an assistant coach under Jean-Louis Gasset for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Emerse Fae. Photo/Eurosport
The team’s performance at the group stage was disappointing and the manager, Gasset was dismissed. This created an opportunity for Fae to help manage the team in the finals.
AFCON Victory
When Fae took charge of Ivory Coast midway through the 2024 AFCON, he was not sure about the outcome and he faced immense pressure but displayed remarkable leadership and tactical flexibility.
He led the team on a sensational run including victories over Senegal, Mali and DR Congo, ultimately securing a win over Nigeria in the final, bringing Ivory Coast their third AFCON title. This achievement propelled Fae to a national hero status and earned him a permanent head coach position.
Though the AFCON results were appealing, there is a hard task ahead of him as he needs to maintain the high standard set at the tournament. Developing young talent, building a consistent playing style and navigating the demands of international tournaments will be crucial to his future success.
His managerial journey has so far been extraordinary based on Ivory Coast’s victory and he is expected to put the team to further glory.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login