Sporting director Markus Kroesche has spoken out following public criticism of his private property purchases, defending his work for Eintracht Frankfurt. The 44-year-old responded to reports that scrutinised his business activities outside the club and suggested a link to his role at the Bundesliga side.
Kroesche said the sudden public discussion had surprised him. "I have always acted with full transparency towards the relevant authorities," the sporting director stated. He pointed out that all transactions had been handled and reported correctly. The debate comes at a time when the sporting successes of recent years seemed to be fading into the background.
The record under Kroesche
Under the sporting direction of Markus Kroesche, Eintracht Frankfurt has achieved remarkable successes in recent years. These include winning the Europa League in 2022, reaching the Champions League semi-finals, and maintaining a consistent presence in the upper third of the Bundesliga table. Kroesche emphasised that these achievements are the result of a clear strategy and hard work across the entire club. "We have built a squad that is competitive and operates financially sustainably at the same time," Kroesche said.
The current season shows a mixed record. Eintracht Frankfurt sits in eleventh place with eight points after six matchdays. Coach Dino Toppmöller's team recently secured an important 1-0 home win against 1. FC Köln, after suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat at RB Leipzig the previous week. The league table thus reflects a performance curve with highs and lows: three wins, one draw and two defeats in the first six matches.
The next test is already coming up this Saturday with the away game at Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund, currently second in the standings, pose a major challenge. For Eintracht, it's about building on the positive development from the Cologne game and not allowing the six-point gap to the top to grow any larger.
Focus on the sporting future
Despite the personal debate, the focus for Markus Kroesche and the entire club remains on sporting goals. With five goals in six appearances, Younes Ebnoutalib is currently the team's most prolific scorer. His performance symbolises the successful youth development work that has been prioritised under Kroesche. The sporting director also referred to the ongoing planning for the coming season, which continues unabated despite the media attention.
The club's management stands firmly behind Kroesche. Internal communication underlined the professionalism and integrity of the sporting director. They see no connection between private, legal business dealings and his leadership role at the club. Energy should instead be channelled into preparing for the important Bundesliga away match at Borussia Dortmund on October 24th.
The team, meanwhile, is preparing normally for the encounter. The last five games have yielded three wins, one draw and one defeat. This form needs to be confirmed against a direct competitor for European places.
This story first appeared at welt.de
