Adi Hütter returns as head coach to Eintracht Frankfurt – contract until 2029

Hütter himself was emotional at the press conference. "For me, it is something very special and emotional to be Eintracht's coach again," he said. "The time we had together in Frankfurt shaped me, and I have never forgotten it. In retrospect, I always felt that I wasn't finished yet."

A controversial departure and late realization

In his first tenure, Hütter led Eintracht to the Europa League semi-finals in 2019. However, his departure in the summer of 2021 caused considerable resentment because he announced his move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the middle of a crucial phase of the season.

At the time, Eintracht Frankfurt was in fourth place in the league table with a seven-point lead, but they squandered it and missed out on Champions League qualification. Hütter now admitted that his statement at the time, that only the colors would change, was "absolute nonsense" and a big mistake.

"Of course, I would have wished for my departure to be different," Hütter said. However, the differences between him and the club have long since been resolved. After the past season, he had several intensive conversations with Krösche, who clearly outlined the sporting direction for him.

The sporting vision: attacking football with discipline

"He clearly set the direction, and that impressed me," said Hütter. Krösche, in turn, praised the coach's footballing philosophy: "Adi Hütter stands for courageous attacking football, clarity, and discipline. He has shown at his previous clubs that he can combine fast-paced transition play with ball possession."

Hütter explained that he had further developed his playing style during his time at AS Monaco, where he often faced opponents defending deep. "With Monaco, we often played against teams defending deep. You need creative players for that," he said. Furthermore, he wants to convey a clear idea to the players, which includes both offensive plans and solid defense as a basis.

His previous engagement at AS Monaco ended in October of the previous year with his dismissal. Now he returns to Frankfurt with his two assistant coaches, Christian Peintinger and Klaus Schmidt. Hütter emphasized that he wants to get the best out of an exciting squad, which will require hard work.

Squad issues and the role of Nathaniel Brown

Regarding the squad, Hütter also spoke about Nathaniel Brown, who recently played the full match in Germany's 4-0 friendly win against Finland in Mainz. Brown himself described the performance as a "special moment" and spoke of an open competition with David Raum for the left-back position.

Hütter called Brown an "object of desire" and added: "We are still looking at how we can keep him here." The coach also stressed that he has always tried to develop and integrate young players.

Hütter described his leadership style as balanced: "I am certainly not a friend of the players, but I am also far from being their opponent. I like this close-distance relationship." A coach is also a motivator, a communicator, and sometimes a father figure.

Personal matters and looking ahead

Off the pitch, Hütter was emphatically rooted in his homeland. He prefers Handkäs without music and rarely drank Äppelwoi, he said. His home will be the Stadtwald. "When I arrived yesterday and saw the skyline from the hotel, I thought to myself: 'Adi, this is the right place for you'," he reported.

Eintracht finished the past Bundesliga season in eighth place, thus missing out on European competition. Hütter described the club's development over the past ten years as breathtaking and is looking forward to the staff, the new task, and the entire Eintracht family.

Side notes: U21 record and international matches

Meanwhile, Eintracht's U21 team made headlines: The team won its last Hessenliga match 7-5 against CSC Kassel, becoming the first team to surpass the 90-point mark. The previous record of 88 points was held by SV Darmstadt in 2004.

Other Eintracht professionals were also in action during the international break. Ritsu Doan played 45 minutes for Japan in their 1-0 victory against Iceland, while Aurèle Amenda sat on the bench during Switzerland's 4-0 success against Jordan.