Eintracht Backs Krösche Amid Power Struggle Rumors
The knives were supposedly out for Markus Krösche. A decisive supervisory board meeting, an early exit on the table, the end of the Eintracht Frankfurt era for the sporting boss.
Inside the club, they say that’s fiction.
According to research by specialist magazine kicker, based on extensive background talks with leading figures at Eintracht, neither Krösche nor the club are working on a separation this summer. Quite the opposite: the 45-year-old is said to enjoy “full backing” from the SGE supervisory board.
That picture clashes sharply with what Bild had suggested only days earlier. The tabloid claimed the supervisory board meeting on 2 September would be used to discuss how to usher Krösche towards the exit door.
Supervisory board chairman and club president Mathias Beck has now shot that down.
“The supervisory board meeting on Wednesday is a regularly scheduled meeting that has been planned for a long time. Naturally, it will cover all the topics of the summer, including sporting matters. I will not comment publicly on reports about Markus Krösche. The fact is, he has a current contract (until 2028), declared himself clearly committed to Eintracht Frankfurt two months ago and, with his team, is in the final straight of the transfer window. There is therefore no reason to speculate about the future of Markus Krösche,” Beck is quoted as saying by kicker.
“Stink bombs” and vanity: who is fighting whom at Eintracht?
Behind the scenes, those conversations with kicker painted a curious picture. Inside Eintracht, there is said to be “ever-present surprise” at the rumours of a split. The astonishment did not feel choreographed, according to the report. No orchestrated defence line. More like genuine irritation.
In this highly charged situation, kicker describes the possibility of “stink bombs” being thrown “to stir up unrest”, driven by the “vanities” of certain individuals. Where exactly the information for the Bild am Sonntag story came from remains “mysterious”. What is clear: not everyone at Eintracht seems to be pulling completely in the same direction right now.
On Sunday evening, Lothar Matthäus struck a similar tone on Sky90. “Something is being played behind the scenes here against Markus Krösche because perhaps some people are jealous of him,” the record Germany international speculated.
The supposed internal rift between Krösche and coach Adi Hütter, also reported by Bild, does not exist in this form, kicker adds. Yes, the transfer window has been turbulent and sluggish. Yes, Hütter is anything but thrilled that key decisions were made so late, around the start of the season. But talk of a major bust-up is wide of the mark. The Austrian did get two of his preferred signings: goalkeeper Noah Atubolu and centre-back Lilian Brassier.
A murky transfer window – and big money still on the table
While the debate over Krösche’s future rages in public, his day job is still complicated enough.
Eintracht threw away a 3-1 lead at Union Berlin on the opening matchday and returned to Frankfurt with only a point. The performance underlined how much work remains – and how decisive the final days of the transfer window could be.
With Arnau Kalimuendo, there is still hope of another loan deal, kicker reports. The forward impressed in the second half of last season on loan from Nottingham, scoring six goals in 19 games for SGE. A reunion would ease some of the attacking pressure.
On the outgoing side, things could get even more dramatic. A move for Hugo Larsson to the Premier League could bring in up to €25 million. The midfielder was recently in London with Eintracht’s blessing to negotiate with two clubs, one of them Crystal Palace.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya was also expected to fill the coffers. His proposed transfer to Hull City was set to bring in almost €20 million, but according to Sport1 the player himself rejected the deal.
And then there is Ritsu Doan. A sale that was not originally on the cards could still materialise in the final hours of the window. Matching media reports say Al-Ittihad are pushing hard for the Japan international, with a move to Saudi Arabia for around €18 million now considered likely.
Three departures, more than €60 million in transfer fees – and a squad that would look very different overnight. All while the man tasked with steering this chaos is being publicly discussed as a lame duck.
AC Milan’s failed coup and the first cracks in Krösche’s aura
The timing of the current rumours is striking. Only a few weeks ago, AC Milan tried and failed to lure Krösche away from Frankfurt. In June, he gave the Rossoneri a final rejection. According to kicker, he turned down a personally highly lucrative offer: around €40 million over four years.
Up to that point, Krösche’s reputation at Eintracht had been almost untouchable. He had built his standing on a series of strong sales and smart squad moves. Then came Albert Riera.
After the dismissal of Dino Toppmöller, Krösche pushed hard for Riera as head coach. It proved a disastrous choice. Riera clashed with fans and players, failed to convince on the pitch and was gone again after just 14 matches and a disappointing eighth-place finish.
The consequence is painful: for the first time since Krösche took over in 2021, Eintracht are not playing in Europe this season. The aura of infallibility is gone. Criticism has arrived.
Krösche himself is not feeding the fire. Asked about the departure rumours after the 3-3 draw in Berlin on Saturday, he refused to be drawn in.
“We’re talking about football,” he said shortly after the final whistle. When pressed again, he simply asked to “leave it at that”.
The club hierarchy insists he stays. Parts of the public debate suggest someone wants him gone. The transfer clock is ticking, the squad is in flux, and the first cracks in the project are visible.
The question now is not just whether Krösche survives this storm – but what Eintracht Frankfurt will look like once it finally clears.
