Eintracht Frankfurt has appointed Joti Chatzialexiou as its new sports director, securing the 50-year-old executive from 2nd Bundesliga club 1. FC Nürnberg. FC Nürnberg.
Frankfurt Appoints Chatzialexiou in SGE Board Reshuffle
Eintracht Frankfurt formally announced the appointment on Saturday, bringing Chatzialexiou back to his birthplace on a long-term contract running through June 30, 2030, according to Ligaportal. The executive will officially assume his duties at the club managed by Adi Hütter on February 1, 2027, following the conclusion of the upcoming winter transfer window. The long-term contract is already signed, and predecessor Krösche had been released at his own request in mid-October after over five years at SGE, and he is considered a candidate for the sports director post at Italian powerhouse AC Milan.
🚨💥 BREAKING | Joti Chatzialexiou to Eintracht Frankfurt – DONE DEAL ✔️50 y/o will become their new board member for sport to succeed Markus Krösche. Contract until 2030 signed. Start date: February 1, 2027 (unless an earlier start can somehow be arranged). Chatzialexiou is… pic.twitter.com/MwHEONLDCm
Prior to finalizing the agreement, Chatzialexiou presented his sporting vision on Friday evening to the supervisory board of SGE during a meeting held at the Airport Club at Frankfurt Airport. Eintracht president Mathias Beck noted that the incoming executive earned unanimous approval from club leadership due to his deep understanding of youth development and data-driven squad planning. Board chairman Axel Hellmann praised Chatzialexiou as a proven specialist equipped with a strong professional network and a clear grasp of modern football demands. Already since August, Chatzialexiou had been considered the preferred candidate for the case that Krösche leaves the club before the end of his contract. Previously, the executive committee centered around president and supervisory board boss Mathias Beck (55) alongside Felix Wirmer (47) and Sven Janssen (60) had already made a fundamental decision in favor of Chatzialexiou.
Release Clause and Financial Terms Between Frankfurt and Nürnberg
To secure the transfer, Eintracht Frankfurt activated a contractual exit clause included in Chatzialexiou’s arrangement with 1. FC Nürnberg. FC Nürnberg. Media reports from Sport Bild indicate that Chatzialexiou is slated to earn an annual salary of approximately one million euro in Frankfurt.
The timing of the transition has generated discussion, where Nürnberg currently occupies second place in the 2nd Bundesliga under head coach Miroslav Klose. While official communications from Nürnberg indicate the sports director will remain with the club until February, reports suggest an earlier departure could materialize depending on internal developments.
Nürnberg Prepares for Succession as Klose Addresses Rumors
Nürnberg head coach Miroslav Klose acknowledged the speculation surrounding his sports chief prior to the official announcement, noting that his squad was aware of the ongoing discussions. Supervisory board chairman Peter Meier stated that the club is confident in identifying a successor through established internal processes to maintain continuity alongside Chatzialexiou during the transition phase.
For Chatzialexiou, the move represents a homecoming to the Main metropolis. He previously worked as a youth coach at Eintracht Frankfurt from 2001 to 2009 before embarking on a long tenure with the German Football Association (DFB), where his roles included serving as the sporting director for national teams. He assumed his current leadership post in Nürnberg in May 2024 before extending his contract in August through 2028, a deal now cut short by his return to the Bundesliga.
