Milan have reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt’s sporting director, Markus Krösche, to become the club’s new technical director, according to reports in Italy. The move comes three weeks after a significant restructuring of Milan’s sporting area, which saw multiple directors depart the club on May 25th.
Krösche, 45, has been with Eintracht Frankfurt since 2021 and is highly regarded for his talent identification and development skills. While an agreement is in place, the transfer is contingent on Krösche being released from his contract with the Bundesliga club, which runs until 2028. The expectation is that this will be finalised within days.
Krösche’s name emerged as a strong candidate following the collapse of negotiations with Ralf Rangnick. The appointment represents a continuation of Milan’s strategy to rebuild its leadership with German personnel. He is known for identifying and nurturing talent, turning players into potential transfer profits – a philosophy that aligns with the objectives of the club’s ownership, RedBird.
Alongside Krösche, Milan are also looking to bring in Timmo Hardung, his long-time collaborator, as the new sporting director. Hardung also requires a release from his contract at Eintracht Frankfurt. The pair have worked together since 2019, initially at RB Leipzig and then at Frankfurt, and are considered a successful duo in German football, credited with significant player trading success. Players such as Ekitike, Pacho, Kolo Muani, Lindstrom, and Marmoush were all brought to Frankfurt under their leadership, while they previously oversaw the development of Nkunku and Dani Olmo at Leipzig.
The working relationship between Krösche and Hardung mirrors the dynamic seen between Rangnick and the Red Bull model, with Krösche having been involved in discussions for a role at Leipzig in 2019. The appointment of Amorim as head coach, combined with Krösche’s arrival, allows Milan to accelerate their transfer activity, as neither is currently involved in the ongoing European Championship. However, both men will need to quickly adapt to the nuances of Italian football, having no prior experience in Serie A.
