Former Toulouse FC striker Cedric Faure has returned to his home region to coach amateur club Fonsorbes after 22 years away from the area.
The Toulouse-born coach chose to move back to southwestern France to be near his family, including his parents and his grandparents, who are aged 89 and 90.
Faure played for Toulouse FC, known locally as TFC or the Violets, between 2001 and 2004. The club plays its home matches at the Stadium de Toulouse, located on the Ramier island in the center of the city. He broke into the professional side in 2001 when he was 22 years old while playing for local amateur outfit Balma SC, based in a suburb just east of Toulouse.
At the time, Toulouse FC had suffered an administrative demotion down to National 1, the third division of French football. The squad was decimated following the drop, but the club aimed for a rapid return to the top flight. Faure seized his chance to establish himself in the senior side during a memorable campaign for the team's young players, known as the Pitchouns.
Faure went on to excite supporters at the Stadium de Toulouse across two and a half seasons. He scored 11 goals in National 1 during his first campaign, helping the team secure immediate promotion. He followed that performance by scoring 20 goals in Ligue 2, finishing as the top scorer in the French second division as Toulouse FC claimed back-to-back league titles.
Return to amateur football in Fonsorbes
Since leaving Toulouse in 2004, Faure has built a management career with stints at French clubs Tournefeuille and Mulhouse, as well as coaching roles in Belgium. After five years on the touchline, he opted to take over at Fonsorbes, a commune situated southwest of Toulouse in the Haute-Garonne department.
Faure stated that his mission at Fonsorbes goes well beyond match results. He explained that his primary objective is to rebuild a squad that has experienced significant personnel turnover. He added that he wants to foster a tight-knit family club atmosphere where players and staff work hand in hand.
Reflecting on his transition from professional playing to amateur management, Faure observed that managing non-professionals requires a distinct approach. He noted that while strict discipline remains necessary, managers must remember that football is not a job for amateur players.
Faure emphasized that interpersonal relationships are the single most critical factor in management. He estimated that managing human relationships accounts for 90 percent of a coach's success at the amateur level. This philosophy requires him to act not only as a manager, but also as a psychologist, a friend, and a father figure to provide guidance to younger squad members.
Contrast between past and present Toulouse FC
Faure continues to closely monitor Toulouse FC and noted a massive contrast between the modern club and the institution he represented as a player. He said the club has grown significantly in terms of marketing, matchday attendance at the Stadium de Toulouse, and general public enthusiasm. He added that the senior team receives far greater media coverage today.
However, Faure identified a clear decline in the relative level of the club's youth academy compared to his era. He said previous Toulouse academy sides were stronger, pointing out that the reserve team used to compete in National 2, the fourth tier of French football, while youth teams regularly made deep runs in the Coupe Gambardella, France's national under-19 cup competition.
Faure noted that some Toulouse youth teams have recently been relegated to regional divisions. Despite these setbacks, he stated that he is not worried about the long term development of the academy, explaining that the strong performance of the first team will eventually lift the youth structure back to higher levels.
Football economics and player valuation
Faure also reflected on the drastic economic changes in professional football over the past two decades. Following his top scorer campaign in Ligue 2, Faure scored 10 goals in Ligue 1 during the 2003-2004 season. Despite that goal tally, head coach Erick Mombaerts decided not to rely on him for the following campaign, and the striker was sent on loan to Breton club En Avant Guingamp.
Faure recalled being informed at the time that he had produced a poor season. He pointed out that in the modern transfer market, a 21-year-old player who scores 10 goals in Ligue 1 commands a transfer fee between 15 million and 30 million euros. He stated that this financial inflation has altered player-club relationships, concluding that professional football has increasingly become a market rather than anything else.
Future ambitions in management
Faure considers himself a young coach at the start of his managerial journey despite having five years of experience on the bench. He revealed that he holds almost all required coaching diplomas, with only one final qualification remaining to complete his badges.
Faure expressed a clear ambition to climb the managerial ranks and eventually coach a professional team. He stated that he would be open to managing in Ligue 3, also known as National 1, or taking charge of youth or reserve teams at a higher level. Having earned his living as a goalscorer for many years, Faure said his goal is now to build a career around passing on his knowledge to the next generation, with his return to the Toulouse area marking the start of a new chapter.
