Eberl, King Midas of Gladbach

The historical German with the unpronounceable name, the Borussia Mönchengladbach, he will face Real Madrid and the great culprit of this is Max Eberl. It has been more than a decade since the former defender of the Rhenish club took over the sports management of a club that was not exactly going through the best moment of its centennial history. In 2010, the decline was closer than ever. Eberl dismissed the coach, Michael Frontzeck, and, finally, achieved the salvation of the hand of Lucien Favre. “Back then, galaxies were separating us from Europa,” Eberl said recently in an interview with the German newspaper Der Spiegel. Ten years later, it is a reality.

Let it be so, it is Eberl's doing. The Bavarian became general manager of the Gladbach, but he continued in front of the sports area, from where managed to boost the club with a series of signings They not only raised the staff level considerably, but also gave the Fohlen more room for maneuver economically. Players like Reus, Xhaka or Ter Stegen grew up with Eberl and left an important income in Borussia Park, which was key when it came to finding their place again among the greats of the Bundesliga. “Max's work, above all in the market, is extraordinary,” said Ter Stegen himself.

More merit has the ability of the Gladbach's visible head when it comes to reinvent itself year after year. The departure of players like Raffael, Dante or Kruse left a void in western Germany that the architect of modern Borussia was able to fill. Footballers like Plea, Sommer and, perhaps, his last great success arrived, coach Rose to keep the team up and even get it into the Champions League. “A template is like a puzzle. There has to be everything. Left-handed, right-handed, tribal chiefs and soldiers, ”explains Eberl. For now, the pieces still fit together.