Football Season Review

№13: Eintracht Frankfurt

A consistent run of form midway through the season saw Eintracht Frankfurt secure a midtable finish in what proved to be a fairly successful season for the Eagles. Frankfurt were clearly the surprise package last season, securing a European qualification spot in their first campaign back in the Bundesliga. Coach Armin Veh focused on improving his attack in the summer, bringing as many as three strikers in Joselu, Vaclav Kadlec and Jan Rosenthal but none of the players were able to stake their claim in the starting lineup as Frankfurt struggled to hit the ground running. The season started on the worst possible way as Frankfurt suffered their biggest defeat following a 1-6 drubbing by newly promoted Hertha Berlin. The heavy defeat set the tone for the season as Frankfurt struggled for form in the first half, managing just three wins till the winter break, to hover dangerously close to the relegation zone. Frankfurt did enjoy a successful European debut, finishing at the top of their group table before putting in a couple of gritty performances against Porto in the Round of 32 clash, bowing out only on the away goals rule. Veh rotated his strike force with Joselu, Kadlec and Rosenthal all given chances but goals were hard to come by for the Eagles, who ended the season with the third worst goals tally in the league. A timely return to form that saw them win four of their eight games after the New Year saw Frankfurt slowly pull themselves away from the drop zone before three wins from four games against Nurnberg, Borussia Monchengladbach and Mainz secured their safety from relegation. By that time Veh had announced he will be leaving the club after his contract expired and Frankfurt's season ended in a fizzle as they collected just one point from their last five games. With Veh off to Stuttgart, Frankfurt are yet to appoint a successor though the new man coming in will have some decisions to make with Pirmin Schwegler transferred to Hoffenheim while Sebastian Rode has signed up with Bayern Munchen. Frankfurt have so far confirmed Aleksandar Ignjovski's signing from Werder Bremen while the club has also been linked with Schalke's Tim Hoogland and Italian midfielder Lorenzo Crisetig, though the first task for the club remains finding a successor for Veh.


Player of the Season: Marco Russ