In Bundesliga, there are Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. After those two German giants, it’s an open space for others to come in: Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach. But only one of those clubs was won five Bundesliga titles (as much as Dortmund) – Monchengladbach. The Foals are one of the biggest clubs in Germany, but over the years, they have fallen down the pecking order and were even relegated. But in October 2008, former player Max Eberl took over the post of sports director. After difficult years and the rescue of the relegation in the 2010/11 season, the five-time German champion started to fly high under Eberl’s sporting leadership. Gladbach has made it into the Champions League three times in recent years and has played in the Europa League four times.But, that succes came at the price. And the price was Eberl’s health and his state of mind. As of today, Max Eberl is not Borussia’s sporting director, and the journalists present at the press conference witnessed how one of the best managers in the game broke down in front of them, melted from the every day work in modern football. It all started to unfold after the June transfer window, which ended on September 1st. “I didn’t come back after four, but after two weeks and hit the football reality very hard. With Corona, transfers, players, coaches. There were so many issues that it took me 14 days after the transfer period to come to my senses. I’ve realized it’s going in the wrong direction. If anyone thinks that I’ve changed clubs, please forget it real quick. I just want out. I don’t want anything to do with this football right now. I’m tired of football and I’m tired of you journalists. Don’t take it personally. I just want to see the world, have fun. Just don’t have any responsibility, just be Max Eberl. I want that. That’s why I made this incredibly difficult decision at an incredibly bad time. But for the first time in my life I think of myself. There’s a strong team that’ll do this. I’m very, very sad because I have to leave a lot of great people here to get by“ said Eberl in a heartbeat.Putting rivalry to one side: respect for your decision, Max Eberl. Health is the most important thing. #effzeh wish you all the best for the future.— 1. FC Cologne (@fckoeln_en) January 28, 2022 Borussia officials admitted that Eberl first spoke about resigning in October, just months after signing an extension until 2026. But after Borussia played in the Champions League in 2020, the expectations were high. The pressure became even bigger when coach Marko Rose decided to go to Dortmund in June 2021. The club went into a result crisis and missed any chance of European football. With the same team that went into the Champions League, but with a new coach Addie Hutter, the club started this season terribly – the Foals are currently just 3 points above relegation zone. „I extended my contract 13 months ago. At the time, I didn’t expect to be sitting here today asking the club for what I asked them to do. I took the time off because I had to get out of this grinder. The mill because I’m human, because I do everything with 100 percent. I’ve done that for 23 years now, as a player. As sporting director, I wanted to give more than 100 percent to bring the great club forward. Last year I realized that this meticulousness was becoming too much. I insulted people, raged at fans. Every defeat was my defeat” admitted a soon to be ex Borussia’s director. 🎙️ Eberl: “My wish is for football to be the focus rather than making a circus of everything surrounding it. I feel like more respect is needed. There had already been abuse and rumours about my decision before I had even said a single word.”#DieFohlen pic.twitter.com/CJ8136U44W— Gladbach (@borussia_en) January 28, 2022 However, Eberl did try to finish his tenure (and this conference) on a positive note. „This is by far the hardest press conference I’ve ever had to hold. We talked for a long time about how I’m doing. What is made of it in 24 hours is what makes me sick. 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. There is no need to worry. I’m not on the Camino de Santiago, I’m not fit enough for that. But I’ll be fine. It was an honor to work here. Thank you” said Eberl. It seems it will be a while before we see him in football again.
