Enlarge image
Roland Virkus becomes the new sports director in Mönchengladbach
Photo: photo booth / van der Velden / imago images/photo booth
With a surprising solution from within their own ranks, Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach is closing the gap that manager Max Eberl opened up three weeks ago with his surprising resignation.
The 55-year-old Roland Virkus, previously director of the young talent center of the five-time German champion and a native of Mönchengladbach, was promoted to the new sports director of the foals on Tuesday.
"I am very happy about the trust of the club management," said Virkus, "for me this new task is a great challenge, which I approach with humility and respect, but also with great joy and full of energy." He knows that he is Borussia is not alone, "but I have a great team by my side," said Virkus, who is to be officially introduced on Tuesday afternoon.
Vice-President Rainer Bonhof explained that the new sporting director has everything “that you need for the position of sporting director.
He has experience in running a professional football operation, experience in squad planning, experience in dealing with coaches and players, experience in dealing with player agents and a large network.
He's the right man for this job," said the 1974 world champion.
On January 28, Eberl announced his departure from Gladbach in tears at a press conference due to deep tiredness and mental exhaustion.
"I'm ending what my life was," the ex-professional said in Borussia Park: "I can no longer work for this great club because I'm ill.
I am exhausted.
I just want out of the mill.«
aha/dpa