An emerging force in the Bundesliga, Eintracht Frankfurt and their fans have been on a long journey to get where they are today. On the verge of relegation in 2016, the team survived the drop via the relegation playoff. Keeping his team up, Niko Kovač was retained by the club, a decision which benefitted Die Adler greatly. The following season saw the team make great progress, finishing 11th under Kovač. Moving forward, the club appointed Fredi Bobic as director of football and club chairman. Bobic would go on to play a big role. The Kovač-Bobic duo led Eintracht Frankfurt into the 2017/18 Bundesliga season, a season which saw the team announce themselves as future contenders. Winning the DFB-Pokal, a small budget club was proving itself worthy of the big stage.
Eintracht Frankfurt Thriving on the Big Stage
European Success
Winning the DFB-Pokal was a massive achievement for a club like Eintracht. Beating Bayern Munich in the final, the financial disparity between the clubs is staggering. Securing a place in the Europa League, just being in a European competition was a huge deal. However, the Eagles would do more than just make up the numbers. The Europa League draw wasn’t kind, as the team faced tough opposition. Drawn alongside Marseille, Lazio and Cypriot side Apollon Limassol, Adi Hütter’s team entered full of confidence. Frankfurt qualified emphatically, making history in the process. Eintracht became the first German side in European competition to win every group stage game. The team finished ahead of Lazio, with 18 points, scoring 17 goals in just six games.
Eintracht’s group stage dominance made them an unattractive opponent. The team nobody wanted to play, they were drawn against Shakhtar Donetsk. A Ukrainian side with plenty of European experience, Donetsk is a test for any team. A free-scoring team, Frankfurt went to Ukraine and scored twice, bringing home two away goals. The home leg saw the team dominate, coming away with a convincing 4-1 win. Heading into the Round of 16, the German club was drawn against Inter Milan, a Champions League dropout. This was the biggest stage of all. A small, up and coming side like Frankfurt could only dream of moments like this. From relegation battles to the San Siro, Eintracht Frankfurt were about to announce themselves to the rest of Europe. The side came away with a 1-0 victory over two legs, a win which will go down in club history.
Small Budget, Big Results
In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich lead the way when it comes to player wages. The club’s average player wage per season is an unsurprising $8.36 million. Bayern can afford such wages due to the club’s financial strength and league dominance. Eintracht Frankfurt as a club is the complete opposite. The club’s average player wage is just $1.2 million, which is the tenth-highest average wage in the Bundesliga. So, how has this small-budget club seen such good results in domestic and European competition? Well, the source of the club’s success comes from four key figures. Saving the club from relegation, Niko Kovač has played a big role in the team’s current success. Kovač led the team from a relegation play-off all the way to the DFB-Pokal final. The Croat has since moved on, but his impact was vital during his time with the club.
His replacement has also been valuable, with Adi Hütter stabilising the team. Since taking over, Hütter’s role was to help Frankfurt complete the transition from a relegation candidate to European contenders. Hütter’s first season in charge has been a success. Now, the work on the touchline has been good, but the masterminds behind the team’s transformation sit in the stands, not in the dugout. Director of football Fredi Bobic is the club’s decision maker when it comes to personnel. Bringing in cheap, young players, Bobic has worked closely with head scout Ben Manga. Manga became chief scout just months after the club avoided relegation. Since taking up his role, the club has benefitted greatly from the Manga, Bobic duo. Signing players such as Sébastien Haller, for a club record £6.3 million, the team also brought in the likes of Ante Rebic and Luka Jovic.
Costing less than £10 million in total, the free-scoring trio have contributed 50 goals and 22 assists in all competitions. Bobic has also signed bargains like Danny da Costa, who will be a team of the season nominee come seasons end. In addition, young defender Evan N’Dicka has also exceeded expectations, being named Bundesliga rookie of the month for February. Both players cost the team a meagre £5.85 million. Eintracht’s squad has been expertly constructed to be a sustainable, competitive group of players. Bobic and Manga have been invaluable since joining the club, successfully leading the team into Europe.
What The Future Holds
As a football club, Eintracht Frankfurt are in very good shape. A Bundesliga success story, the club’s hierarchy has put the team in a position to succeed moving forward. Buying young, ever-improving players, the team’s farm system is stacked with players who will play a role in the years to come. Led by Hütter, Bobic and Manga, the future looks bright and at the very least stable. A team which was once on the verge of relegation, this Eintracht team has a lot going on this season. Pushing for a Champions League place, securing European football once again looks likely. As well as the league, the team is focusing on their historical Europa League campaign. Set to play Benfica in the quarter-final, Hütter’s team will fancy their chances against anyone as the tournament goes on.
A superb stadium, passionate fan base, talented staff on and off the pitch and Champions League football on the horizon, this Frankfurt team is one to keep an eye on in the future.
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