Sporting director Kroesche leaves Frankfurt

FRANKFURT, Germany: Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Kroesche has been released from his contract early "at his own request", the club said in a statement on Sunday.

Kroesche, 46, had a contract at Frankfurt running until 2028.

The sporting director is considered the main architect of Frankfurt's rise from mid-table to winning the Europa League winners and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.

Under Kroesche, Frankfurt won the 2022 Europa League and sold several players for huge returns, including Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, Omar Marmoush to Manchester City and Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain.

The one-time RB Leipzig sporting director was previously linked with the sporting director job at Borussia Dortmund, but has faced criticism in recent seasons.

After playing in the Champions League last season, Frankfurt have struggled this campaign with two wins from six matches and sit 11th in the table.

"After more than five highly successful – yet also very demanding – years at this magnificent club, I have come to feel that I need a change, and that a fresh impetus might also be beneficial for Eintracht," Kroesche said in a statement.