From the World Cup to... Hibs? AFCON winner gunning for shock job

19 Sept 2026 17:02 BST | 3 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Former Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae has surprisingly thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant coaching job at Hibernian.

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The Scottish Premiership outfit sacked club icon David Gray on Wednesday following a run of six home defeats on the bounce - something not seen since 1920. John Potter is currently in interim charge of Hibs but has admitted that he doesn't know for how long.

"It’s a little bit unsure at the moment," he said ahead of Saturday's clash with Aberdeen. After the match, Hibs are set to jet off for a training camp during the three-week international break.

"I don’t know [if I’ll be asked to take the training trip]," Potter conceded. "We’ve put into place a plan in terms of what’s required, training times, we’ve spoken to the staff about players who are going, and the players who are on international duty, so it’s all organised."

This upcoming period without games is the ideal opportunity to bring in a new manager, and the recruitment process is well underway. Unexpectedly, Hibs have received some high-profile interest.

Fae wants Hibs job

The Scottish Sun claims that 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winner Emerse Fae is gunning for the vacant job after leaving his role as manager of the Ivory Coast following their World Cup elimination.

He led the Elephants into the round of 32 - the furthest they had ever gone in a World Cup finals - where they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Norway after a late Erling Haaland goal.

He previously got the job in bizarre circumstances, taking over mid-tournament at AFCON 2023. The team had endured a disappointing start and only just barely qualified for the knockouts after finishing third in their group.

Jean-Louis Gasset was torpedoed out of the job and replaced by his assistant Fae, who led his country past Senegal, Mali, DR Congo and Nigeria. It was the first time a nation had won AFCON after changing their manager during the tournament.

During his time in charge of the Ivory Coast, Fae bet heavily on youth. He gave new Real Madrid star Yan Diomande his big break at AFCON 2025 and also platformed Newcastle signing Bazoumana Toure, Man Utd winger Amad Diallo and exciting Fiorentina midfielder Christ Inao Oulai.

Now, Fae wants to move to Edinburgh. It is asserted that he has "already been studying the Easter Road side’s squad and style of play." The former Reading midfielder has "family links to Scotland," hence the interest in the Hibs job.