Joti Chatzialexiou to become Eintracht Frankfurt’s new sporting director

Frankfurt’s leadership is accelerating changes, particularly within the sporting sector, under the direction of club boss Axel Hellmann. This shift includes former captain Sebastian Rode moving closer to the team and coaching staff, a strategic decision for the future. Simultaneously, current Sport Director Timmo Hardung will transition to a role focused on strategic tasks, observing games from the executive box instead of the sidelines.

The timing of Hardung’s future with the club depends on the new sporting director’s vision. Mathias Beck, the supervisory board chairman, has swiftly and effectively managed the search for Markus Krösche’s successor. Negotiations with Chatzialexiou are complete, and his appointment is imminent.

Chatzialexiou, 50, born and raised in Frankfurt, currently holds the position of sporting director at 1. FC Nürnberg. He recently extended his contract with the club in August, but a clause in his agreement allows for early termination.

The deal is considered a bargain for Eintracht, costing significantly less than a seven-figure sum. This is particularly noteworthy considering the potential transfer fee Markus Krösche may receive if he joins AC Milan.

Benjamin Weber (Augsburg) and Marcel Schäfer (Leipzig) were considered but ultimately not selected. Discussions with former captain Christopher Spycher did not yield a consensus. Chatzialexiou previously worked in Eintracht’s youth academy and maintains a strong relationship with Axel Hellmann and future colleague Philipp Reschke.

Chatzialexiou, a modern strategist with a data-driven approach, recently introduced a new scouting model at 1. FC Nürnberg. Examples of his successful scouting include Finn Jeltsch (now at VfB Stuttgart) and Stefanos Tzimas (Brighton). Mohamed Ali Zoma, signed from Italy for €1.5 million and now an Italian national team player with a €20 million market value, is another success story.

His extensive network, built during his two decades at the German Football Association (DFB), will also be valuable. He was instrumental in reforming talent development and shaping the DFB Academy alongside Matthias Sammer and Oliver Bierhoff. Chatzialexiou emphasizes character as a crucial factor alongside skill, stating, “Mentalität schlägt Qualität” (Mentality beats quality).

Prior to joining the DFB in 2003, Chatzialexiou was involved with Eintracht’s youth development program, bringing a degree of familiarity to his new role.