Frankfurt look to poach Krösche successor, with Spycher top of the shortlist

Eintracht Frankfurt are searching for a new sporting director after Markus Krösche left the club at his own request, and according to Kicker they plan to lure the successor away from another club rather than hire someone out of work. Young Boys sporting chief Christoph Spycher is the favourite, Sport1 reports.

A tearful goodbye

The club announced on Sunday evening that the 46-year-old had been released with immediate effect after almost five and a half years in the job. The supervisory board agreed unanimously. A day later Krösche said goodbye in person at the members' meeting in Frankfurt's Jahrhunderthalle, in front of more than 1,300 members, and fought back tears several times.

"I can no longer do my best job," he said, explaining that he had lost some of the energy the role demands. He revealed that the decision had already been taken before Friday's 1-0 win over Köln: "I knew that we would part ways on Sunday. Then I stood in the stadium against Köln on Friday and knew it would be my last Eintracht game." He closed with: "I was an Eintrachtler in recent years and I will always remain an Eintrachtler," and received a standing ovation.

Five years in numbers

Krösche arrived in the summer of 2021. Frankfurt won the Europa League in 2022 on his watch, and he sold three forwards for far more than the club had paid: Omar Marmoush to Manchester City for €75 million, Hugo Ekitiké to Liverpool for almost €100 million and Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain for more than €90 million, according to hessenschau. Criticism had grown in recent months, however, above all over the appointment of former coach Albert Riera and a slow summer transfer window. Krösche had been linked with AC Milan in June and leaves without an immediate new club.

Hellmann in charge, with a new course

Axel Hellmann has been promoted from spokesman to chairman of the executive board and covers the sporting director's duties on an interim basis. At the members' meeting he set out an adjusted transfer policy: "We will never be able to afford finished players of European quality down to the 18th place in the squad; we will always rely on young players. We are looking more at our academy, more within Germany, more at potential German internationals, including from the youth teams."

The shortlist

According to Bild, Frankfurt are in talks with three leading candidates: Spycher, Nürnberg sporting director Joti Chatzialexiou and Augsburg's Benjamin Weber. hessenschau reports that the new man will receive money to fill gaps in coach Adi Hütter's squad in the winter window.

Spycher, 48, made 149 competitive appearances for Frankfurt between 2005 and 2010 and captained the side. He won the Swiss title with Hütter at Young Boys in 2017/18. Prising him away will not be simple: Sport1 reports that he has no release clause in Bern and holds a ten per cent stake in the club, which he would have to sell.

No appointment is expected before Saturday's trip to Dortmund (18:30). If the search drags on into the winter, sporting director Timmo Hardung could lead the transfer window under Hellmann, Bild and hr-Sport report. Frankfurt are 11th on 8 points after six matchdays; Dortmund are second on 14, level with leaders Bayern.