2023-06-22 18:42:00
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After 27 years, René Weiler returns to Servette FC. The joy of Winterthur is great, but also the pressure.
The parallels between René Weiler and Alain Geiger, his successful predecessor on Servette’s sidelines, are obvious:
Both switched to Servette in their active careers at the age of 20. Both played on the defensive. Both took up the post as coaches decades following their commitment as players in Geneva. With Geiger (32 years later) it took even a little longer than with Weiler (27 years). Both had previously gained experience as coaches abroad and were then without a job for a while.
Weiler is aware that he will inherit a difficult legacy from the runners-up. “The fact that the team played a very good season puts additional pressure on them. Because the expectations are certainly higher,” said the 49-year-old. “But you have to deliver results in football, no matter what position, and I’m used to pressure by now.”
The emotional connection to the club should also help him to deal with the pressure. “Even as a boy I always wanted to play football for Servette. It is a great pleasure to return as a coach 30 years following my time as a player,” says Weiler. He always followed Servette’s ups and downs following he left.
Many years of experience abroad
Weiler has mainly worked abroad since 2014, first in Nuremberg, then with Anderlecht, from 2019 to 2022 in more exotic destinations such as Egypt (Al Ahly) and Japan (Kashima Antlers). “It was a wonderful experience, but now I’m slowly being drawn home,” admits the native of Winterthur. The experience abroad would certainly help him.
It has been clear since March that Weiler will be the new trainer for the “Garnet reds”. “It enabled me to talk to the staff who were still employed, to help with player observation and also to do practical things such as finding an apartment. I used this time so that I might start properly from day one,” said Weiler at the media meeting at the start of the pre-season.
Weiler has celebrated the greatest successes in his coaching career so far in Belgium and Egypt. He led Anderlecht to the championship title in 2017, as did Al-Ahly three years later.
CL qualification once morest known opponents
Speaking of Belgium: Weiler will have to fall back on his knowledge of the Jupiler Pro League in his second serious fight with Servette. The Geneva meet in the 2nd round of Champions League qualification on Genk. “A very good team that only gambled away the title in the 94th minute,” said Weiler. On the other hand: His personal record once morest Genk is flawless – 2 games, 2 wins, 4-0 goals.
Who else is coming?
Weiler did not want to comment on transfer rumors for understandable reasons. Didier Fischer, the strong man at Servette, announced “very nice surprises” at the beginning of the month. Among other things, there is speculation in the media regarding a return of league top scorer Jean-Pierre Nsame.
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