Eintracht Frankfurt's turbulent season took a significant off-pitch turn on Sunday when Sportvorstand Markus Krösche departed the club with immediate effect. The club confirmed it had agreed to his request for an early release from a contract that ran until 2028, with Axel Hellmann simultaneously elevated to Vorstandsvorsitzender. Reports emerged quickly that Krösche is close to joining AC Milan, with transfer expert Matteo Moretto citing intensive negotiations and broad agreement on financial terms. The move would end a five-year spell at Frankfurt during which Krösche oversaw the Europa League triumph in 2022 and two Champions League qualifications, but his final months were defined by the ill-fated appointment of Albert Riera and a squad that has struggled badly for defensive solidity.

On the pitch, there are at least small signs of stabilisation. Frankfurt beat Cologne 1-0 on Friday to record only their second league win of the season, lifting them to 11th in the table with eight points from six games. That result matters because it followed the humiliating 0-6 defeat at RB Leipzig, after which coach Adi Hütter publicly criticised captain Robin Koch before reaffirming his faith in him days later. The defensive problems remain real, with 16 goals conceded in six Bundesliga matches. A trip to Borussia Dortmund on 24 October represents a stern test of whether Friday's win signals genuine recovery or simply a brief reprieve.