Max Eberl announces his immediate resignation in tears: "I have no more strength"

Created: 01/28/2022, 14:36

By: Patrick Mayer

After 13 years as manager of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Max Eberl throws in an emotional press conference.

The foals lose their success maker.

Update from January 28, 2:16 p.m .:

Max Eberl is over!

At a memorable press conference, the Gladbach manager announced his resignation after 13 years in office.

He can't hold back his tears.

"This is by far the hardest press conference I've ever had to hold.

I'm exhausted, tired, no longer have the strength that this job requires.

There is no hurt pride, no frustration, no love.

The person Max Eberl is tired.”

The 48-year-old struggles with the words.

"I'm ending what my life was.

A lot of things were no longer fun.

The club fought for me, but I have to look out for people.

I left everything I had on the pitch.

It's not about football anymore, it's about me."

Eberl catches his breath several times, it is clear not only through his words but also through his facial expressions that he is completely exhausted: "I just want to get out, I don't want to have anything to do with football anymore.

I want to see this world and just be Max Eberl.

That's why I made this decision at this incredibly unfortunate time."

President Rolf Königs and his deputy Rainer Bonhof also take part in the press round.

"It's not a nice day, a crap day in fact.

When Max Eberl approached us last October, we were shocked.

We did everything we could to keep him.

We didn't succeed.

We are sad, we didn't expect that," says the visibly battered king.

Bonhof also seems shocked: "It hurts me.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that he gets better soon.

He put the building blocks together here, so we're going to try everything to move things in the right direction."

Update from January 28, 9:49 a.m .:

The winter transfer window may also get a real hit in the Bundesliga.

With the allegedly planned resignation as sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Max Eberl himself is likely to become the biggest personality in the troubled Bundesliga club from the Lower Rhine.

It could quickly become clear whether that will help the team, which recently suffered their seventh defeat in the past nine competitive games and will have to do without captain Lars Stindl for a longer period of time.

The opponents after the possibly extremely turbulent break are Arminia Bielefeld (14th) and FC Augsburg (16th), Borussia are only three points away from FCA on the relegation place.

Has Eberl lost his way?

He has been doing this job with the Gladbachers for over 13 years.

In October 2008 he started as sporting director at Borussia.

Times of success distinguished him, made him one whose name has already been associated with FC Bayern.

Max Eberl: Farewell to Borussia Mönchengladbach?

January 2022 - times have changed. The messed up season so far, provisionally crowned by the embarrassing end of the cup against the second division team Hannover 96 and the already confirmed departures of two important players in the summer, makes Eberl doubt his effectiveness. And others probably on him. The new coach Adi Hütter - brought in from Eintracht Frankfurt for 7.5 million - has not yet ignited. The squad restructuring drew criticism. In the meantime, there are "increasing quarrels and differences of opinion within the club," says the broadcaster

, according to

, long-time companions should be of the opinion that Eberl "has strayed from his straight path".

"The rumor has been circulating in the industry for a long time that Eberl could have an interesting offer from another club," writes

.

The club should not give in so easily.

According to

, Eberl asked for his contract to be terminated at the end of the month, but club boss Rolf Königs is said to have refused.

It should be about a possible transfer, especially since revenue from international business for the former Champions League participant is not in sight for the time being.

Eberl's contract is valid until the end of June 2026.

As the

also reported, Königs Eberl should make it a condition that Eberl is not allowed to take over any other Bundesliga club for a year in the event of a separation.

If Eberl actually ends his job on January 31, a successor will have no room for maneuver in the current transfer window.

It will be one for future planning.

Dieter Hecking, who trained Gladbach from January 2017 to May 2019, is traded as a duo with former Borussia player Martin Stranzl – speculates the

.

However, Hecking is currently the sports director at 1. FC Nürnberg.

Rouven Schröder*, sports director of Nuremberg's second division rivals FC Schalke 04, is a candidate 

for

Bundesliga bang!

Max Eberl quits as sports director in Gladbach

First report from January 27, 8:32 p.m .:

Mönchengladbach – bang in the Bundesliga*: As the

and the

report on this Thursday evening, Max Eberl throws down as sports director of Borussia Mönchengladbach.

The former Bayern Munich player (1991-1994) has already informed the club bosses and the team, it is said.

Max Eberl is retiring as sporting director at Borussia Mönchengladbach

After 13 years it's apparently over.

It was only in December 2020 that the 48-year-old Eberl extended his contract on the Lower Rhine until 2026.

Most recently, the former top team in the Bundesliga table was in relegation trouble and made a fool of itself in the DFB Cup round of 16 at second division side Hannover 96 (0: 3) *.

Now Eberl is apparently drawing consequences from the sporting descent.

There was no official confirmation from the club on Thursday evening.

Eberl took over his post in October 2008 from another ex-Munich resident: Christian Ziege.

Since then, the former Bundesliga player (Bayern, Gladbach, Bochum)* has successively led the then relegation candidates upwards.

The highlights were a 3rd place (2014/15) and three 4th places (2011/12, 2015/16, 2019/20) and the associated participation in the European Cup and the Champions League*.

Max Eberl quits as sports director – Gladbach lags behind Bundesliga goals

But: Last season, the Gladbachers had missed their goals in eighth after the change from coach Marco Rose to Borussia Dortmund* became known.

After 20 match days, the West Germans are currently in 12th place - just three points ahead of the relegation zone.

Most recently, German international Matthias Ginter (28 years old) and Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria, two top performers, had declared that they would not extend their contract on the Lower Rhine, which expired in the summer.

In addition, after six defeats in the last eight league games, there was speculation as to whether the Austrian coach Adi Hütter would have to vacate his post – ex-Bayern coach Niko Kovac* was named as a possible successor.

Now Eberl, who is considered a confidant of FCB patron Uli Hoeneß, is apparently giving up his post instead.

*