So what had been suspected for a while was confirmed this week with the announcement that Oliver Glasner would be leaving his position as Eintracht Frankfurt trainer after the DFB Pokal final. Having led the Adler to the Europa League title last year, the season has been one of disappointment for the Austrian with on-field and off-field issues clouding his tenure.
The question now arises as to who will succeed him in the Frankfurt hotseat. Here we bring you six potential candidates.
Dino Toppmöller (un-attached)
The early front-runner for the job is former Bayern-assistant Dino Toppmöller, who is currently a free agent following his and Julian Nagelsmann’s departure from the Allianz Arena. He could follow Nagelsmann as his assistant wherever he ends up, but it is reported he wants to take the step up to be a number one.
He was with Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig, with his only real success/ experience coming in Luxembourg where he led F91 Düdelingen to the Europa League group stage. He is the son of former Frankfurt and Leverkusen coach Klaus, so there is a family connection with the club.
Matthias Jaissle (RB Salzburg)
The conveyor belt of talent from RB Salzburg to the Bundesliga doesn’t merely extend to players with Jesse Marsch, Marco Rose, Thomas Letsch, and Adi Hütter all making the switch in recent years. Current Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle looks to be next in line to upgrade to the Bundesliga.
The former Hoffenheim midfielder took the Austrian side to the last 16 of the Champions League last season and has been gaining a host of admirers. He holds the advantage of experience over Toppmöller.
Christian Ilzer (Sturm Graz)
Another Austrian Bundesliga coach garnering a lot attention and destined for bigger things is Christian Ilzer of Sturm Graz. A knee injury ended his playing career aged just 17, but he has taken to coaching with aplomb. He’s led Graz to the Austrian Cup this season and with the league still up for grabs the double is still on the cards. He has however played down speculation linking him with a move away.
“I feel extremely comfortable at Sturm Graz and we’re doing great this season. In order to get me away from Sturm Graz, voluntarily, something very special has to happen. There was no contact at all. It’s really completely out of thin air and I’m not interested at all at the moment” he said to Sky recently.
Arne Slot (Feyenoord)
Having led Feyenoord to the final of the Conference League last season and to within touching distance of this year’s Eredivisie title, Arne Slot is a much sought after coach and Eintracht Frankfurt must be considering him amongst their options. He looks set to make the step up from the Rotterdam club, but Eintracht will no doubt face stiff competition from the Premier League for the 44-year-old’s services.
Mike Tullberg (Borussia Dortmund U19)
Edin Terzic has done it and so too has Enrico Maaßen at Augsburg, so why can’t another Dortmund youth coach make the bug step up to a senior Bundesliga post? BVB U-19 coach Mike Tullberg has had his name put into the frame by Bild. He’s led the A-Junioren to back-to-back finals, but recently lost out to Mainz for the trophy. An outside bet and perhaps one for the future, rather than today.
Adi Hütter (un-attached)
Former Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter is currently looking for a job and as an outside bet could a name to consider. The manner of his departure to Borussia Mönchengladbach was not the most welcome news at the time, but he was voted Coach of the Year back in 2019 and oversaw the famous team that ran riot with Sebastien Haller, Luka Jovic and Ante Rebic . He knows the club and might want to throw his hat in the ring.
