Ben Manga less in demand for Eintracht Frankfurt transfers
Dhe Frankfurter Eintracht feels well positioned in view of the challenges and demands that arise for them as European Cup winners. That’s what the chairman of the supervisory board, Philip Holzer, said last week after he announced that authorized signatory Philipp Reschke would be accepted as the fourth member of the board and that the contract with chief financial officer Oliver Frankenbach would be extended until mid-2026.
In fact, the management team of the traditional Hessian club, which wants to be more than a club and now is, has proven in recent years that they work well together. Not only in day-to-day business, but also in the strategic planning and development of the association.
The new sports director Markus Krösche fits in perfectly, his prudent actions on the transfer market are followed with respect and goodwill by his colleagues on the board. The newcomer of RB Leipzig reacted to the difficult financial situation caused by the corona pandemic with early signings of free transfer players in particular, without jeopardizing athletic performance. The permanent takeover of the loan players Hauge and Jakic was confirmed at the weekend.
Manga’s Pearl Diver Skills
But there is always room for improvement. In this context, it is noticeable that the expertise of the former squad planner Ben Manga seems to be less and less in demand, although he is now the director of professional football and should have more influence on transfer policy due to his position. A signing is never an individual decision, but is made after group consultation, with the sporting director having the final say.
Different philosophies, views and preferences collide in this group, resulting from the socialization and experiences of the individuals. manga His native language is Spanish, so he mainly observes the South American and Iberian market, but also the French one. His specialty: juniors under 20 years old, with the talent of European format.
A look at the starting XI from Sevilla shows how important Manga’s contacts were for Eintracht: Borré, Ndicka, Tuta and Touré contained supporting forces that hardly anyone else at Eintracht would have thought of. He also recommended Kostic, Sow and Lindström. Eintracht has brought in many good players who are not based on Manga’s special knowledge: But it was clear that Trapp, Hinteregger and Rode would help. You knew exactly what you were getting and had to dig deep into your pockets accordingly. Without the prospect of a return on resale.
When it comes to imaginative transfers, the record is less sparkling. Hauge, whose fee of more than seven million euros is not appropriate after the performances shown so far, is opposed to the direct hit Knauff. There was also a Sam Lammers, for whom there is no obligation to buy after the loan, to the delight of the Eintracht fans.
Eintracht’s purchasing policy is not to be criticized, and manga has not always found players who can help the team. But it is clear that Eintracht robs itself of a good chance of generating millions in transfers if it does not take into account Manga’s pearl diving skills, which attracted the most attention from Jovic and Haller. Of the new signings for the next season, only Kolo Muani has been signed on Manga’s initiative. The coming season will show how well Eintracht did with it.
