Resignation fixed: Gladbach maker Max Eberl is leaving – farewell after 23 years

Sports Director comments

Max Eberl is retiring from his long-standing post at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The sports director, who has been at the club for 23 years and has been responsible for the transfers of the “foals” for around 13 years, confirmed his resignation at a press conference on Friday.

Eberl was simply “exhausted”, as the manager emphasized. There is no anger and no frustration, it’s all about his health. That’s why he’s spoken to the club in recent months. “I’m ending something that was my life. Which I enjoyed and enjoyed. Soccer is my joy. Many things around it are no longer my joy,” said Eberl. He thanks the club for the opportunity to draw the line. Eberl left it open whether there could even be a future in football for him. He spoke in tears and protested that he was not leaving because of a change of club. “I just have to get out, I just have to see the world,” says Eberl. “I don’t want to have anything to do with football anymore.”

Gladbach President Rolf Königs was surprised by Eberl’s decision, especially since the contract was not extended until 2020. The club tried to change the manager’s mind, but respect the step. Eberl informed the club of his final request on Thursday. “We will do everything we can to fill the gap left by Max Eberl in order to achieve our sporting goals again,” said Koenig without even mentioning a candidate. Vice-President Rainer Bonhof said: “Of course the decision that Max made hurts. It’s up to me to keep my fingers crossed that he gets better soon. We in the club will continue on our way and always remain true to ourselves.”

Speculations about successors and reasons for Eberl’s resignation

As a possible successor, the “Bild” newspaper brought a duo of ex-coach Dieter Hecking and ex-professional Martin Stranzl into play. However, the latter commented via “ran”: “There is absolutely nothing to it. Nobody spoke to me. I’m in the middle of training as a coach, so a job is still miles away at the moment.” “Sky” reported that Schalke’s Rouven Schröder was also a candidate, which was shortly afterwards ruled out based on “Sky” information. Berns Christoph Spycher is also said to have canceled.

TM community
Eberl is discussed here in the Gladbach forumHave your say now!
The reports cited increasing quarrels and disagreements among Gladbachers as reasons for the step. In addition, the manager was absent from the troubled Borussia, according to the club, “ill”. In January 2021, he already took almost four weeks off from his duties with the Foals during the winter transfer window, which caused a stir all the more.

Eberl spoke of “visions” with Gladbach – sporting crisis triggers criticism

Eberl first came to Borussia as a player in January 1999, where he ended his playing career in 2005. After an interim step as youth coordinator, he took over the post of sports director in October 2008 and led Gladbach to the Champions League three times. Under Eberl, the “foals” have spent 295 million euros on the transfer market since the summer of 2009 and earned 218 million euros in the same period.

Eberl extended his contract in Gladbach until 2026 just over a year ago and spoke of “visions” with Borussia. Eberl had repeatedly emphasized that he would like to win titles with his heart club. This was shattered again this season by the embarrassing loss of the cup at the second division team Hannover 96 (0:3).

Gladbach’s crisis season
Schedule and table history of BorussiaTo the TM database
Due to the massive sporting crisis in the current season, Eberl, whose work has been highly valued for many years, has recently come under criticism. Before the season, he had brought Adi Hütter from Eintracht Frankfurt for 7.5 million euros to succeed Marco Rose, whose early departure from Gladbach to Borussia Dortmund had already led to discord. After 20 games this season, Gladbacher Borussia is only in twelfth place under Hütter. With 20 points, the club is only two points ahead of the relegation rank.

So Max has certainly shaped his merits and the club over the last decade. No question. When you see what he has developed from the possibilities in a not exactly attractive environment, the positive clearly outweighs the negative. But now to predict the end of the world is too much for me. He can neither walk on water nor is he the only manager who is able to do something with limited resources (see Freiburg).
The timing is certainly unfortunate and the…

To home page