Interim coach Ernest Faber became a four-time national champion as a player with PSV. In between his time in Eindhoven, the former defender spent half a season with FC Groningen. He also worked as a trainer in Groningen. This weekend he faces his old club.
Red thread
Ernest Faber was accepted into the youth academy at the age of thirteen. PSV subsequently became a common thread in his life. After a number of loan spells, Faber broke through to the first team in the 1992-1993 season. On his debut in the first team, he immediately picked up a prize by winning the 1992 Super Cup (predecessor of the Johan Cruijff Schaal) from Feyenoord with the team. That year, he impressed by restraining AC Milan attacker Marco van Basten. From that season on, the robust defender was a regular in the PSV squad for many years and played once in the Dutch national team. One more outing followed.
FC Groningen
Due to fierce competition, Faber is rented out to FC Groningen for half a season in the 1993-1994 season. He ended up playing eleven games for the "Pride of the North. His period in Groningen continues in 2016. As trainer, he succeeds Erwin van de Looi. In his first season, he ends with the Groningen side in eighth place in the Eredivisie. Then the following season runs a little more difficult. In 2018, Faber decides to leave. Remarkably, he remains unbeaten against PSV as a player and as a coach. FC Groningen ends the season in twelfth place. A return to 'his' PSV follows.
Different tasks
Having already fulfilled various tasks at the club, Faber will be appointed Head of Youth Training in 2018. In 2012, he was already assistant to Dick Advocaat and then Phillip Cocu. This season, Faber will be in charge of the group for the first time as interim coach. A role that came his way unexpectedly. After all, Faber was enjoying himself as Head of Youth Training. "I'm doing this to help the club," he said shortly after his appointment as interim head coach. With ten points from four games, the team under Faber seems to have resumed its upward trajectory.
Reunion
Next game, Faber travels with PSV to Groningen. There follows the reunion with old acquaintances of the interim coach. "A number of players were already there when I was active there. There are also a few guys who have moved on from youth teams that I still know from youth teams," he said in Friday's press conference. That information could possibly benefit the team. "I know the environment, the club, the people, the way of working and the philosophy. So that's kind of easy," Faber said. He continues: "But it's about what you do yourself. If you play the way you should or can play. Then you should normally go and win."