Image Credits: Imago Images
Eintracht Frankfurt sacked head coach Dino Toppmoller following a run of poor results and defensive struggles. The club cited the team’s performances in the opening three games of 2026 as a key factor in the decision.
Toppmoller, 45, took over in July 2023, succeeding Oliver Glasner, and had a contract running until mid-2028. In his first season, he guided Frankfurt to sixth in the Bundesliga, followed by a third-place finish the next year, securing the club’s first-ever Champions League spot via the league.
“I would have loved to continue working with this team and face the challenges ahead, but I accept the decision,” Toppmoller said after he was fired. In the interim, U21 coach Dennis Schmitt and U19 coach Alexander Meier have taken charge of the team until a permanent coach is appointed.
Former Liverpool player Albert Riera is among the names linked with the permanent role. Frankfurt have yet to finalise the appointment of Albert Riera as head coach, with negotiations over his release from NK Celje still ongoing, according to Kicker.
Riera’s release clause is €5million, but Frankfurt are not willing to pay the full amount. The fee is expected to be negotiated down significantly. No final agreement has been reached so far.
Riera, a former left winger who played for Liverpool, earned 16 caps for Spain. He began his coaching career in 2020 as an assistant at Galatasaray.
Since 2022, he has held head coach roles at Olimpija Ljubljana, Girondins Bordeaux, and NK Celje. He took over Celje again in the summer of 2024, having previously coached them briefly in 2023. This season, Riera has guided Celje to the Conference League playoffs and the top of the league, with a 12-point lead over second-place Koper.
He also won the double with Ljubljana in 2022/23 and led Celje to a cup victory last season. HNK Rijeka and Dinamo Zagreb reportedly tried to sign him in the past but were unsuccessful.
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