Mönchengladbach (dpa) – Max Eberl has received a lot of encouragement from the football industry for the openly stated reasons for his immediate departure as sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach. His departure after 13 years as a manager also poses major problems for those responsible.
So it goes on with Eberl and Borussia
Eberl’s future: A change of the 48-year-old to another club is off the table after the presentation of his health problems. “If anyone thinks I’m doing it because I want to change clubs – forget that. I just want out,” said Eberl in the emotional press conference in which he made his resignation public. There had previously been speculation that Eberl had received a lucrative offer from another club that he wanted to accept. In fact, the former professional is taking a longer break. “I just don’t want to have anything to do with football right now,” said Eberl, who might disappear for a while.
Eberl’s successor: This should be settled relatively quickly. “We won’t give ourselves much time,” said club boss Rolf Königs. A permanent promotion for Steffen Korell, who was previously Eberl’s most important employee as head of the scouting department, is not an issue. “We will look around externally,” Koenig continued. Internally, candidates and a course of action have already been agreed. Eberl is privy to these plans. “I think the club is on a very, very good path there,” he said.
The candidates: The name of Dieter Hecking, from whom Eberl and Borussia parted as coaches almost three years ago, persists. But Hecking remained friendly with Eberl. The former Borussia professional and current sports director of the second division club 1. FC Nürnberg is also still very much appreciated on the club’s board. Jörg Schmadtke is also not unlikely. The man from Düsseldorf faces an uncertain future at VfL Wolfsburg and was once assistant coach to today’s Vice President Rainer Bonhof in Gladbach. He is also considered a good buddy of Eberl. Rouven Schröder from FC Schalke 04, who was also mentioned, is not an issue.
Other Borussia construction sites: In the short term, the end of the transfer period is on January 31st. The Gladbachers urgently need to rebuild the qualitatively strong but difficult squad. Most recently, the club hoped to be able to earn a few more millions with the departures of Matthias Ginter, Denis Zakaria, Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea in order to be able to bring in new stars. The bosses do not see the fact that there is no sports director left as a problem. In the short term, Korell, which is already on the subject, should work through these points. A possible successor to Eberl would also be required very quickly after the end of the transfer window. The team has arrived in the relegation battle after seven defeats from the past nine competitive games. The next two games at Arminia Bielefeld (February 5) and against FC Augsburg (February 12) will be groundbreaking – also for coach Adi Hütter.