‘The Heart of Football’ in the heart of Europe | OneFootball

The Working Groups of European Football Clubs (EFC) met for their annual conference in Frankfurt for the first time, in one of the largest ever gatherings of European club officials in Germany.

Representatives from over 160 professional clubs from 40 European nations, united under the banner of European Football Clubs (EFC), gathered in Frankfurt this week. In the EFC Working Groups, experiences were exchanged, focus topics set and the positions of the professional clubs at UEFA, FIFA and EU level agreed. In this way, the clubs ensure that sporting policy decisions are made with the realities of club football in mind. In the heart of Europe, the ‘Heart of Football’ was united – Frankfurt as a vibrant hub for football innovation, dialogue and cohesion. It was one of the most comprehensive gatherings of club officials in Germany.

“Welcome to the EintrachtLab at im Herzen von Europa 1,” said Axel Hellmann, CEO of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG and Special Envoy to EFC Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, in the Arena of IoT at Deutsche Bank Park. “In the heart of Europe: our postal address, the title of our club anthem, but much more than that. It is the club’s promise to the European idea, European competitions and EFC.” The place where EintrachtTech GmbH drives ideas and innovations forward, realises them and sets new standards – with great passion and meticulousness. In short, an ideal venue within the context. “It’s an evening marked by innovation and inspiration,” said Charlie Marshall, CEO of European Football Clubs, at the opening of the Innovation Session on Tuesday evening, organised in collaboration with EintrachtTech and OneFootball. Clubs of all sizes from all over Europe

EFC, formerly European Club Association (ECA), brings together clubs of all sizes from across Europe and now has over 800 members. In Frankfurt, the club representatives in the EFC Working Groups Men’s Football, Youth Football, Legal & Regulatory, Commercial & Innovation, Finance, Governance & Development and Fan Engagement discussed key issues relating to club development in football. 

“Hosting the EFC Working Groups in Frankfurt is an honour,” underlined Hellmann. “What EFC has achieved in the last two years is magnificent. We now number over 800 members and I'm sure we’ll soon reach 1,000 and also become the most innovative organisation in football. We offer members the resources and tools to grow.” Developed by EintrachtTech

These are resources and tools developed under the leadership of EintrachtTech, among others. “We are very much looking forward to sharing our knowledge with them and exchanging ideas. That’s why we are here today,” said EintrachtTech managing director Timm Jäger on Tuesday evening, giving an exciting overview of the wide range of tasks performed by Eintracht’s digital subsidiary. Over the past few years, Eintracht Frankfurt has developed into one of the most digital football clubs in Europe. Just recently, the Eagles were named German Digital Champion 2025 by the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ) on behalf of DUP Unternehmer magazine. “Be different, work on our USP, always be one step ahead, tap into new sources of income and be noticed,” said Jäger, describing the path the club has taken. “We combine innovation and passion, which only exists in the world of football,” added Hellmann. Part of that world of football was united in the heart of Europe over recent days. The high-profile EFC meeting in Frankfurt underscored the growing strategic importance of institutional affairs for Eintracht Frankfurt and demonstrated that close cooperation with European and global football associations opens up new opportunities to strengthen a club’s international profile and jointly create added value for the football ecosystem as a whole.