Long after Markus Krosche resigned from the role, RB Leipzig has chosen the highly regarded Max Eberl to fill the position.
Since quitting his last job at Borussia Monchengladbach in January because he was “spent and weary” and lacked “the strength to carry out the job in the way the club deserves,” Eberl has remained idle.
That brought to an end a 23-year association with Borussia Monchengladbach.
He had first joined them in 1999 as a player before transitioning into director roles in 2005.
Since the club and Krosche severed their collaboration in April 2021 due to “heated debates over the team’s future,” Rb Leipzig has been without a permanent sports director.
Christopher Vivell, Florian Scholz and Frank Aehlig had been filling the void in the interim.
Oliver Mintzlaff, the club’s chairman, still thinks Leipzig has the ideal choice in Eberl to lead them ahead.
When he assumes office on December 15 after signing a “long-term” contract.
Mintzlaff said:
“With Max Eberl, we were able to fill the position of managing director for sport with our absolute dream candidate.
“We have been dealing with Max for a long time but have always respected his difficult situation and are now very happy to be able to start working together in December.
“After his press conference in January this year, I got in touch with Max and wished him all the best.
“After that, I kept trying to get in touch, but Max told me he needed peace.
“And wasn’t interested in football, but that we could meet up in the summer.
“That’s why I never let go of contact and met him in the summer.
“Here, Max confirmed that he finds the perspective with us very interesting.
“But he did not want to return before July 1, 2023.
“But that opened the door a bit for us, and we are now very happy that together with Max, we found the starting point of our cooperation for mid-December.
“Max is an absolute football expert with an extensive network and an excellent name in the industry nationally and internationally.
“For many years in Monchengladbach, he showed how you can build something up and find the right solution even for difficult situations.
“He has proven himself both as a transfer expert and a talent promoter.
“He achieved a great deal and delivered a successful job.”
Eberl took over football operations at Gladbach in October 2009.
At that point, they had not ended a top-flight season higher than 10th since 1996.
During his charge, the club finished higher than 10th in 10 successive seasons.
And even managed four top-four finishes in the Bundesliga.
One of those was with Marco Rose as the head coach; the two will collaborate once more in Leipzig now that the 46-year-old has replaced Domenico Tedesco.
Eberl was still technically contracted to Borussia.
But the club agreed to dissolve their partnership, thus allowing him to join Leipzig.
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