After a disappointing campaign last season, Eintracht Frankfurt find themselves in a far better position heading into the October international break. Sitting third in the Bundesliga and fresh off a thrilling 3-3 draw with Bayern Munich, Frankfurt appear to have turned their fortunes around. So, how has this transformation taken place after such a challenging 2022-23 season?
A Season of Transition and Losses
Last season saw Frankfurt underperform by their standards. Despite a sixth-place Bundesliga finish, the team struggled in European competition, crashing out of the UEFA Conference League to Union Saint-Gilloise and suffering a surprise DFB-Pokal exit to lower-league Saarbrücken. The subpar results led to doubts over head coach Dino Toppmöller, who in his debut season with the club, was unable to fully unlock the potential of a talented squad. Expectations were high, especially given Toppmöller’s background, as his father, Klaus Toppmöller, had a successful managerial career in Germany, highlighted by his memorable run with Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.
However, much of Frankfurt’s squad, as well as Toppmöller himself, were navigating their first year together. Key signings like Omar Marmoush, Hugo Larsson, Robin Koch, Ellyes Skhiri, Hugo Ekitike, and Farès Chaïbi arrived at various stages of the season, and it took time for the team to gel. Compounding the challenge, the club lost several of its top players, including Randal Kolo Muani, Daichi Kamada, Evan Ndicka, and Jesper Lindstrøm, all of whom had been instrumental in their previous successes.
New Faces and Emerging Stars
This summer, Frankfurt continued to experience some turnover, losing William Pacho after just a season, but the club still boasts a wealth of talent. One of the most promising additions has been Can Uzun from Nürnberg. After scoring 19 goals last season, the young forward is regarded as one of Germany’s top prospects. Alongside Uzun, the club has high hopes for Chaïbi and Igor Matanovic, the latter of whom impressed during a loan stint at Karlsruher.
Perhaps the most exciting name, however, is Hugo Larsson. The 20-year-old Swedish midfielder has rapidly developed into one of Europe’s most exciting young players. After a standout performance in Frankfurt’s 5-1 thrashing of Bayern Munich last season, Larsson has continued to grow, forming a strong partnership with Skhiri in the midfield. His performances have already attracted attention from Europe’s elite clubs, and if he maintains this trajectory, Larsson could soon become one of Frankfurt’s biggest-ever sales.
In attack, the duo of Hugo Ekitike and Omar Marmoush has emerged as one of Europe’s most lethal partnerships. The two have combined for 10 goals and six assists in the league, ranking fourth in goal contributions across Europe’s top five leagues. Marmoush, in particular, has elevated his game this season, while Ekitike has found a home at Frankfurt after struggling at Paris Saint-Germain. Their combination of Marmoush’s pace and Ekitike’s link-up play has made them a nightmare for defenders, as evidenced by their performance against Bayern Munich.
Defensive Concerns and Room for Improvement
Despite their attacking prowess, Frankfurt still face issues at the back. Defensive lapses have been costly, with the team managing just one clean sheet so far this season, against Borussia Mönchengladbach. They also threw away a lead against Viktoria Plzen, a side they were expected to beat comfortably. Defensive mistakes were also to blame for two of Bayern Munich’s goals in their recent draw.
While their defense remains a concern, Frankfurt have shown they are evolving into one of Europe’s most tactically engaging teams. Toppmöller has started to find the right balance, and as the team continues to gel, there’s a sense that even greater things could be on the horizon for Die Adler this season.
