Albert Riera: Who is the man tasked with bringing Eintracht Frankfurt back amongst the best?
Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen on Matchday 18 signalled the end of Dino Toppmöller’s time as the Eagles’ boss, but simultaneously provided an opportunity for a fresh start at Deutsche Bank Park. That new beginning will be led by Albert Riera, a man who has made an eye-catching start to his coaching career.
Data correct as of 1 Feb 2026
Albert Riera
Age: 43 (born 15 April 1982)
Club: Eintracht Frankfurt
Role: Manager
Country: Spain
Key Stats
Riera ended a 16-year playing career in 2016 that saw him run out for the likes of Bordeaux, Espanyol, Liverpool, Olympiacos and Galatasaray. His extensive and varied career has helped his transition into the coaching world, where has more than enough anecdotes to fall back on when communicating with his players.
During his time at Bordeaux, Riera refused to play as a wing-back and was subsequently dropped from the team, an incident that taught him a swift and harsh lesson: “It only took me three games to realize I'd messed up,” he told Coaches Voice. “That's why now, as a coach, I tell my players they have to be able to play in different positions. They'll have a broader understanding of the game, but they'll also have more opportunities to play.”
Having played under the likes of Rafa Benítez, Luis Aragonés and Fatih Terim - to name a few - and after learning many more lessons along the way, Riera decided to become a coach himself following the end of his playing days at Slovenian side FC Koper.
After gaining coaching badges, Riera became Terim’s assistant at Turkish giants Galatasaray in 2020. There, he stayed as an assistant until 2022, also coaching alongside Domènec Torrent, before taking up his first managerial position a month later at NK Olimpija Ljubljana.
At the end of the 2022/23 campaign, he won the league and cup double, finishing six points ahead of runner-up NK Celje, whom he would boldly join the following summer ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. At the point of his departure to former club Bordeaux in October of that season, Riera had Celje sitting at the top of the table.
Guiding Bordeaux to a mid-table finish in Ligue 2 before they declared bankruptcy at the end of the season, Riera returned to Celje to pick up where he left off. They won the Slovenian Cup in 2024/25, and currently sit at the top of the table once more.
They’ve lost just one of 18 games this season, scoring 46 times whilst conceding just 14 at the other end. To put that into context, they had conceded the same number of goals as the imperious Bayern Munich after 18 Bundesliga games, whilst scoring 11 more goals than Borussia Dortmund had managed in the same timeframe.
The former midfielder’s impressive start to management has been defined by tactical flexibility and superb man-management.
"For me, the most important thing is that they look forward to coming to work every day. That's what connects me to them. If a player isn't feeling that way, he gets a hug," the Spaniard said.
Coaches a bit like: Julian Nagelsmann
Much like the current German national team boss, Riera's style places a great emphasis on entertaining football and controlling matches by maintaining possession of the ball, as opposed to the direct and transition-oriented approach that was visible under Toppmöller.
Did you know?
Despite representing 11 different clubs across seven different countries during his playing days, and also making 16 appearances for the Spanish national team, Riera had never prior been on the books at a German side, nor faced the German national team with his native Spain. The only German side he ever faced in his career was Schalke in a 2012/13 two-leg UEFA Champions League last 16 clash with Galatasaray, which the Turkish outfit won 4-3 on aggregate.
What they're saying
“In Albert Riera, we have deliberately decided on a coach who plays modern, intensive and attacking football. He has international experience, a clear playing philosophy and an equally clear approach in his day-to-day work with the team." - Frankfurt’s board member for sport, Markus Krösche
“If something upsets him in training, he doesn’t just stand on the sideline, he joins in. Then he kicks the ball with such precision that many stars are left speechless. He is in top shape. He is known for restoring players’ self-confidence. He builds them up and doesn’t criticise them in public. His manner takes away the players’ uncertainty." - NK Olimpija Ljubljana president Adam Delius
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