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THE SPORTS MANAGER

Max Eberl is the New Chief Sports Officer at FC Bayern

Thiago Calderaro

On 1 March 2024, Max Eberl took over the position of Chief Sports Officer at FC Bayern Munich, a turning point for both his career and the direction of the club. With extensive experience from previous roles at Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig, Eberl brings a deep knowledge of the football business and a proven track record in squad development and strategy. His appointment is of significant importance to FC Bayern as it comes at a time when the club is seeking both continuity in success and strategic realignment to meet future challenges in domestic and international football. Eberl's wide-ranging responsibilities include continuing the club's success story while leading a period of change with the aim of supporting FC Bayern Munich on its path to further success.

Career as a Player

Max Eberl, born on 21 September 1973 in Bogen, began his career as a defender at Bayern Munich in 1991. He came through the youth teams and ended up playing 4 games for the 2nd team and 1 game for the professionals before moving to VFL Bochum. After another spell at SpVgg Greuther Fürth, he ended up at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he later began his career as an official.

Sports Director at Gladbach and Leipzig

After finishing his active football career, Max Eberl turned his attention to sports management, where he played significant roles first at Borussia Mönchengladbach and later at RB Leipzig. At Mönchengladbach, where he served as sports director from 2008 to 2021, he was instrumental in rebuilding the team from a relegation candidate to a regular participant in European competitions. Eberl's tenure at Mönchengladbach is particularly notable for his ability to discover and develop talented players and achieve significant transfer revenue through skilful negotiation. Under his leadership, the club managed to establish itself in the top half of the Bundesliga and qualify for the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League on several occasions.

His move to RB Leipzig in 2022 as sporting director followed a similar logic of sporting and organisational development, although his time there was shorter. At Leipzig, Eberl continued his approach of integrating young, developable players and positioning the team as a serious challenger both nationally and internationally. Despite the success and progress at Leipzig, Eberl also decided to leave this post after a relatively short time.

Taking Over as Chief Sports Officer at FC Bayern

In assuming the role of Chief Sports Officer at FC Bayern Munich, Max Eberl is taking on an extensive and challenging legacy that comes with high expectations and a multitude of tasks. He is responsible for the men's and women's professional teams as well as the youth department. His main tasks at the start include ensuring the best possible end to the new season, finding a new coach and reorganising the squad for the new season, as well as managing the contracts that expire in 2025. Eberl himself has recognised the importance of his new role and the challenges that come with it, as he said when he was introduced: "Uli, I've already signed, I can't go back".

Under his leadership, Eberl could be planning a radical reorganisation at FC Bayern, which could involve not only the transfer of several players, but also a hierarchical realignment of the existing squad. He has made it clear that "we have the clarity that we need a new coach in the summer" and emphasises the need for a coach who is "keen to work with talent". Eberl does not see the development of young players and simultaneously leading the club to success as a contradiction, but rather a necessary strategy for the future of the club.

Cooperation and teamwork are of central importance to Eberl. He emphasises the importance of working closely with Christoph Freund, the sports director of FC Bayern, in order to master the sporting challenges together. This cooperation is crucial in order to "drive sporting issues forward on an equal footing" and to successfully shape the club's future.

Eberl is determined to give FC Bayern back its identity and strengthen the traditional "Mia san Mia" feeling. He recognises the need to integrate young, hungry talent into the club alongside established stars. His vision for the club includes a balance between experience and youth to ensure long-term success.

Despite the absence of his confidant Steffen Korell, Eberl is confident that he can take FC Bayern forward through innovative approaches and smart decisions. He recognises the difficulty of the task, but believes he is well prepared: "Of course, the task is very big, but I'm not afraid. Eberl brings with him a unique combination of experience, expertise and passion for football that positions him as a key figure in the future of FC Bayern and international football.