The biggest story at Eintracht Frankfurt right now is not on the pitch. Sporting director Markus Krösche resigned with immediate effect on Sunday evening, ending a five-year tenure that included the 2022 Europa League triumph but had grown increasingly strained. The club confirmed the departure following weeks of internal discussions between Krösche and supervisory board chairman Mathias Beck, and Axel Hellmann was simultaneously elevated to chief executive. Reports emerged within hours that Krösche is close to joining AC Milan, with transfer expert Matteo Moretto citing intensive negotiations and broad agreement on financial terms.

The exit caps a difficult period for the club's leadership. Krösche had faced persistent criticism over the ill-fated appointment of Albert Riera last season, a transfer window judged to have poor value, and a flirtation with Milan over the summer that damaged trust internally. A search for his successor is already under way, with names including Joti Chatzialexiou and Christoph Spycher mentioned as candidates.

On the pitch, Frankfurt gave themselves some breathing room with a 1-0 home win over Köln on Friday, their second league victory of the season. The result lifted them to eleventh in the Bundesliga, though the defensive record of 16 goals conceded in six games remains a concern Adi Hütter must address. Next up is a trip to Borussia Dortmund on 24 October, a fixture that will test whether Friday's win signals genuine progress or merely a brief reprieve.