The Camp Nou was already half empty, it was late in the evening, the breathtaking 3: 2 of Frankfurt Eintracht at the big FC Barcelona must have been half an hour ago. People in white hugged each other all over the stadium, singing their songs, rubbing their eyes. Filip Kostic, the best footballer Eintracht Frankfurt has, went alone in front of the curve.
He was greeted with chants, 30,000 Eintracht fans are said to have been at the Camp Nou that day, it felt like more, in the game, and afterwards as well. Kostic took off his jersey and held it out to the fans, with his name and shirt number first. A gesture that is half a gift, half a proud chest, as if Kostic were hoisting a flag on a mountain he had just climbed. Look, I’m Filip Kostic, conqueror of Barcelona, king of the Camp Nou.
For a day like Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Messi
The Camp Nou has already seen many kings, Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Messi, this evening Kostic was in their line for a brief moment. He scored two goals for Eintracht’s sensational advancement himself, who knows how many of his fabulous sprints he attracted, how often the Barca fans thought: who is this man and why is he so good? Kostic was the formative player that evening, he had the game in his hands, he was completely himself and the game was his. “The best game of my career,” he said smiling the day after.
The 2021/22 season did not start royally at all for Kostic and Eintracht Frankfurt. Kostic, after the departure of Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic and Sebastian Haller the last remaining member of the sensational offensive of the years before, saw himself, and not wrongly, called to higher things – and wanted to strike a move to Lazio Rome.
“We are human, we all make mistakes”
Kostic has always been said to have an affinity for Serie A, but also to be an impeccable sportsman. And so, after an offer that was far too low, a public apology and finally a change of agent, he returned to the team. “We are human, we all make mistakes,” Eintracht sports director Markus Krösche opened the door at the time. Nobody was evil at Kostic.
Kostic is now 29 years old and his career has not been going well for a player of his class. He started in Groningen, with Stuttgart and HSV he was relegated, quite a few were skeptical when Fredi Bobic brought him to Frankfurt in 2018. But at Eintracht he blossomed, showed some world-class performances, tore the fans from their seats. In 2020/21 he prepared 17 league goals, which no Frankfurter had ever managed before him, not even the great legends of Hessen, Jürgen Grabowski or Uwe Bein. But Kostic has never played in the Champions League, nor has he won a title. For someone like him, who on a good night can silence the Camp Nou and scream at the same time, that’s actually not enough.
Calling the endgame historical is an understatement
This is probably also why the desire for change before the season came about. Because how likely it seemed in the summer of 2021 that Eintracht Frankfurt would be able to play for the Champions League again after the chance was so carelessly given away last season. Or that a title could even be won at the end of the season, especially an international one. A chance like this has not existed since 1980, only twice in the club’s 123-year history. Calling the final in Seville historical is an understatement. The players know that too.
This is one of the reasons why this final is also the final of Filip Kostic. Not only does he have the chance to win his first title and move into the Champions League. He might as well find his place. Not just as someone who is finally where he belongs in terms of sport, namely at the pinnacle of European club football, with a trophy in his hand. But as a club icon, as the player who gave Eintracht Frankfurt the European Cup, just like his buddy Ante Rebic did with the DFB Cup. All he has to do is climb Mount Sevilla. And then hold out the trophy to the fans. Look, I’m Filip Kostic, King of Frankfurt.
Source: HR