Max Eberl, here on March 14, 2023, has to solve some personnel issues at FC Bayern Munich. Does this also have an impact on Borussia Mönchengladbach?
Copyright: IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel
It’s been brewing for months, and on Monday (February 26, 2024) everything should be done.
Almost exactly 25 months to the day after his tearful farewell to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Max Eberl (50) is about to make his second commitment to a current Champions League participant.
Gladbach earthquake 2.0? Max Eberl could be the domino again
After the failed lightning marriage at RB Leipzig – including a release after less than a year – the long-time face of the Foals is now making the move to FC Bayern Munich, his youth club.
The FC Bayern supervisory board meets on Monday. Then Eberl, who is to be installed as sports director, is also on the agenda. Actually, this is just a formality.
But what happens next at Bayern – with Eberl as the new strong man – is anything but a formality. The fact that coach Thomas Tuchel (50) is leaving the club after the current season became public last week.
However, this does not appear to be the only position that could become vacant in the coming weeks and months. The impending departure of squad planner Marco Neppe (37) was reported in various media.
Loud “KickerChief scout Markus Pilawa, who moved from BVB to FC Bayern in 2022, also wobbles. So something could happen in the second row for the record champions.
And that’s where Eberl’s long-time employer Borussia Mönchengladbach comes into play. Because after the “Sport Bild” the “Kicker” is now also bringing a current Gladbach employee at Bayern into conversation.
Accordingly, Borussia’s squad planner Steffen Korell (52) is a candidate for Bayern if the restructuring in the sporting area is continued. As is well known, Korell is a close confidant of Eberl; both played together for Borussia around the turn of the millennium.
Eberl and Korell both remained with the club. For years, the 52-year-old has been considered the brains behind the Foals’ extraordinarily successful squad planning.
A close relationship over many years! Max Eberl (l.) and Steffen Korell, here on September 20, 2013, worked side by side at Borussia Mönchengladbach for years.
Copyright: imago/Moritz Müller
After Eberl’s resignation, Korell rejected the opportunity to become his friend’s successor. Since then, the former defender has been one of Roland Virkus’ (57) main contacts and continues to have a high status in the club.
But is Max Eberl now also causing another earthquake in Gladbach? Although Korell is only too happy to avoid major public appearances, he is more likely to be seen in the stands and near his office on match days than on the sidelines.
Nevertheless, he is the player with the most experience in Bundesliga business in Borussia’s professional team of licensed players.
If a change were to materialize, it would be a bitter blow not only for Virkus, but for the entire club. Korell moved to Borussia as a player in 2000 and has been in his current role since 2018.