Before Krüger deal: HSV had Bundesliga hidden gem in their sights! | OneFootball

Before HSV decided on Kathleen Krüger as its new board member for sport, those in charge apparently also considered another prominent candidate.

According to the Hamburger Abendblatt, Eintracht Frankfurt chief Markus Krösche was also among the leading contenders for the position, which had been vacant for a long time. The 45-year-old enjoys an excellent reputation in the Bundesliga. Time and again in Frankfurt, he succeeded in signing talented players for relatively small fees and later selling them on for enormous profits.

Names such as Omar Marmoush (to Manchester City for €75 million), Randal Kolo Muani (to Paris Saint-Germain for €95 million), and Willian Pacho (to Paris Saint-Germain for €40 million) are prime examples of Krösche’s transfer strategy. His ability to spot potential early and get deals over the line has earned him a reputation in the industry as a true “pearl diver.”

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Krüger “fits well with HSV’s values”

This profile apparently matched HSV’s requirements perfectly. After parting ways with Stefan Kuntz at the start of the year, the club’s decision-makers deliberately wanted to take a different path. Instead of a traditional football executive with a major background as a player and coach, the focus this time was on strategic expertise, modern management, and sustainable squad development.

Alongside Krösche, Sebastian Kehl was also part of the wider pool of candidates. Unlike the SGE manager, however, no direct talks were held with the former Germany international. In the end, the choice went to Kathleen Krüger anyway. The long-serving Bayern official impressed the club’s leadership both professionally and personally, and ultimately got the nod.

“She fits well with HSV’s values,” president Henrik Köncke told the Abendblatt. “She has proven herself and continued to develop over the past few years at Bayern in a highly competitive environment. That’s why, from our point of view, there is no doubt that she will fill this role very well.”

The fact that Krösche was seriously considered at all, however, shows just how ambitious the search process was. In looking for Kuntz’s successor, HSV did not only consider available candidates, but also set its sights on some of the most renowned decision-makers in German football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.