Albert Riera emerges as frontrunner for Eintracht Frankfurt hot seat
The former Liverpool and Espanyol winger could be set for a big Bundesliga move after impressing in Slovenia, with Eintracht looking to replace interim boss Dennis Schmitt.
Former Premier League player turned managerial rising star Albert Riera has emerged as the leading candidate to take charge of Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt, with talks reportedly in advanced stages.
From player to promising gaffer
Riera, who many English fans will remember from his stints at Liverpool and Manchester City, has been quietly building an impressive coaching CV over in Slovenia. The 41-year-old Spaniard has enjoyed tremendous success with both Olimpija Ljubljana and Celje, collecting quite the trophy cabinet along the way.
With Ljubljana, he pulled off a domestic double in 2022-23, bagging both the league title and cup. After moving to Celje, he continued his winning ways by lifting the Slovenian Cup last season. His current campaign has been even more impressive - Celje are absolutely running away with the league, sitting a whopping 12 points clear of both Koper (where Riera finished his playing days) and Maribor.
Frankfurt’s search narrows
Eintracht have been on the hunt for a permanent manager since Dino Toppmöller got the boot, with Dennis Schmitt holding the fort in the interim. According to Sky’s Florian Plettenberg, the Eagles’ brass have Riera at the top of their shopping list.
Axel Hellmann, a board member at Frankfurt, has hinted that they’re close to appointing someone new, admitting they’re “in the final stretch” of their search. This comes after their attempts to prise Jacob Neestrup from Copenhagen hit a brick wall when the Danish club refused to release him.
While Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen remains a potential Plan B, Plettenberg reports that RB Leipzig’s Marco Rose isn’t in the running at all.
What next for Riera?
If Riera does get the gig, it would mark a significant step up in his managerial career. The Bundesliga represents a much bigger stage than the Slovenian PrvaLiga, but his track record suggests he’s ready for the challenge.
For a bloke who had quite the journeyman career as a player - turning out for ten different clubs across Spain, England, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Slovenia - Riera seems to have found his calling in the dugout. Frankfurt supporters will be hoping his winning habit travels with him to Germany.