Borussia Mönchengladbach: 3 sports director candidates canceled before Virkus

Internal solution for Eberl successor

Genuine Gladbacher instead of an external solution: Borussia Mönchengladbach found what they were looking for in their own ranks for a successor to Max Eberl. Almost three weeks after the tearful retirement of the long-standing and successful sports director, Roland Virkus is taking over his difficult legacy for three and a half years. The surprising promotion of the 55-year-old former youth director and native of Mönchengladbach is intended to help stabilize the troubled Bundesliga club.

“Of course I know that I’m following in big footsteps and I’m really happy that I can continue Max Eberl’s task,” commented Virkus, but made no secret of his awe: “I have tremendous respect for this task and I’m extremely humble. At the end of the day, you don’t want to harm the club you’ve worked for for 32 years.”

To the surprise of the experts, the table-13 decided. not for one of the more prominent candidates previously favored by the media, such as Dieter Hecking (Nuremberg), Rouven Schröder (Schalke) or Christoph Spycher (BSC Young Boys). But Virkus was not the first choice.

Before Virkus: Three sports director candidates canceled Borussia Mönchengladbach

As Rolf Königs described on Tuesday, the club had previously received a rejection from two external candidates. “They explained to us that they have permanent commitments and feel committed to this task,” said the club’s president. “We then took a closer look at our list, compared it and finally asked ourselves why are we actually doing this? We have a man in our own ranks who is not only equal, but better.” According to Vice President Rainer Bonhof, Virkus, father of three, “has everything you need for the position of sporting director. He’s a super guy. We are all convinced to the roots and I know that Roland will do that. He is the right man for this job.”

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The stable smell was apparently an important factor in Virkus’ favor. Like his predecessor Eberl, he was also youth coordinator and director of the young “foal stables”. After the – third – cancellation by squad planner and chief scout Steffen Korell, who the club management had initially chosen as Eberl’s successor, Virkus came into focus. Unlike Korell, he doesn’t shy away from the limelight and was combative when he introduced himself: “I think something can be created here again. And I know that we will get back to where we want to be.”

Virkus wants to go “his own way” at Borussia Mönchengladbach

Virkus moved from Odenkirchen 05/07 to Borussia in 1990 as a youth coach. From 1991 to 2009 he was coach of the U17s, from which, among other things, national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen (FC Barcelona) emerged. He also underlined his good reputation as a dedicated and loyal professional in his other stations with the U19s and as director of the youth academy.

He sees Eberl’s work as a yardstick. After all, the 48-year-old, who announced his resignation for health reasons at the end of January, had consolidated the club in terms of sport and finance and gained a good reputation in the scene. Despite all the appreciation, the new hope from Gladbach does not simply want to copy his predecessor: “I’m Roland Virkus and not Max Eberl and I have my own way.”

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