Nobody could have predicted this big blow: RB Leipzig completely unexpectedly parted ways with sports director Max Eberl, 50, on Friday evening. The manager has only been with the Saxons since December 2022 and had previously taken a long break due to mental problems. From 2005 to January 2022 he worked in various positions at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
“The lack of commitment to the club led us to this decision. This happens completely independently of the squad change and the sporting results,” said RB Leipzig. Sports director Rouven Schröder takes over the sporting management. “We thank Max for the work he has done and wish him all the best for the future,” the statement continued.
They left open what the people of Leipzig mean by “lack of commitment” (in German: lack of identification). As BILD reports, it is primarily about the recurring rumors that connect Eberl with a top position at FC Bayern. After the expulsion of sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, a successor is still being sought. In addition, Eberl is said to have recently stayed in Munich more often than in Leipzig. Ironically, RB will face the record champions this Saturday evening in the top game of the Bundesliga (6.30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker).
A transfer summer that was almost ideal
The separation from Eberl comes as such a surprise because, thanks to his work, the Leipzig team can look back on an almost ideal transfer summer. And that despite the fact that there were major concerns as to whether the level from the previous season could be maintained. In Josko Gvardiol, Konrad Laimer, Dominik Szoboszlai and Christopher Nkunku, top performers were released from every part of the team. But Eberl, together with sports director Schröder, who joined in April, managed to find a replacement – who coach Marco Rose was then able to integrate remarkably quickly.
Here you will find content from Twitter
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
The strikers Lois Openda, 23, who has already scored three goals this season, and Benjamin Sesko, 20 (two goals), immediately became top performers. The central defender Castello Lukeba, 20, as well as the midfielders Christoph Baumgartner, 23, and Fábio Carvalho. The fast right winger Xavi Simons, 20, who was on loan from Paris St. Germain, even became a high flyer: Simons scored three Bundesliga goals and prepared four – in five games.
also read
“Xavi is an absolutely exceptional talent, and in Openda we got our dream striker,” praised Eberl, who fought particularly hard for Openda. The Belgian, who scored 21 goals for France’s championship runners-up RC Lens last season, is also an investment: for Leipzig. The most expensive access at 38.50 million euros was tied until 2028.
Leipzig have won nine of the last ten Bundesliga games across all seasons and have given up their respect for the record champions. The separation from Eberl one day before the big game can be seen as further evidence of this. We are strong enough not to be distracted by such accompanying noises, that was the message.
On the penultimate matchday of last season, the Saxons won 3-1 in Munich, which almost cost Bayern the championship. A 3-0 win in the Supercup followed in mid-August – also in Munich. It just hasn’t worked at home for a while. The last time it was 2-1 was in March 2018. So it’s about time again.
Here you will find content from Twitter
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
During the week, everything in terms of sport was subordinated to the meeting with the Munich team for the Saxons. Rose rotated a lot in the 3-2 win in the DFB Cup on Wednesday in Wiesbaden. “That was the best thing we could do with Bayern in mind,” he explained, knowing that he could rely on a depth in the squad that – apart from that of FC Bayern – is unparalleled in the Bundesliga.
220 million euros in revenue, 152.5 million for nine new players
The biggest change since Leipzig was promoted to the Bundesliga in 2016 has been completed – it was a mammoth task. Eberl and Schröder moved enormous sums of money. They took in 240.70 million euros in transfer fees for the six departures, plus Laimer, who moved to Munich on a free transfer, and eight players who were either newly loaned out or whose loans were ended. RB received 220 million euros alone for Gvardiol, who was transferred to Manchester City, Szoboszlai (to Liverpool FC) and Nkunku (to Chelsea FC).
152.50 million euros of this were reinvested in a total of ten new players – all young and with perspective. The squad has been made future-proof. Almost all new hires were given five-year contracts. This is intended to minimize the risk of further painful departures in the coming years.
Rose makes no secret of the fact that he would have liked to keep Laimer, Nunku and Gvardiol. “Sometimes we didn’t have a hand in it,” he said. Szoboslai and Nkunku had release clauses, Laimer’s contract was expiring. “But Max Eberl and Rouven Schröder did a good job,” said the coach before the managing director was fired. There was also a bit of luck: “But we had the feeling relatively quickly that something was growing together.”
A side effect that should not be underestimated is that the competitive pressure in the squad is higher this season than last. The veterans Yussuf Poulsen, 29, and Emil Forsberg, 31, fought their way back into the team or are on the way there. National striker Timo Werner, 27, who thought he had settled down, was given a pause for thought. A week ago he scored the decisive goal in the 1-0 win in Mönchengladbach. “We will of course also demand something from him internally that he has to bring to the pitch,” said Rose.
In Leipzig he finds almost ideal conditions for a trainer. Rose is aware of this. He is looking forward to further developing the top talent he has received. A start has been made, but the real tests still await. After the game against the best German team on Saturday evening, the kings of Europe come on Wednesday. Then it’s against none other than Champions League winners Manchester City.
Here you will find content from third parties
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
Here you will find content from third parties
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
