How will Eintracht Frankfurt line up under Albert Riera?
Eintracht Frankfurt have appointed Albert Riera as their new head coach. What will the former Liverpool winger bring to the Deutsche Bank Park?
Die Adler had been flying under Dino Toppmöller earlier in the season, but their wings were clipped in the new year, with just two draws and five defeats to show for their seven outings in 2026 so far.
There are nonetheless some talented players hovering around Hesse. Robin Koch, Jonathan Burkardt, Nathaniel Brown and, latterly, Nnamdi Collins are all Germany internationals, while a certain Mario Götze got their winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final.
Toppmöller regularly flitted between 3-4-3 and a 4-2-3-1 systems, using the former 12 times and the latter 14 in his 26 games across all competitions this season…
Which means his team was populated by players adept at more than one position. Ritsu Dōan hit the ground running after his summer transfer from Freiburg with nine goal-involvements (and 12 in all competitions), but he has played as one of two No.10s, on the right wing, and even as a wing-back this season.
Full-backs Brown and Rasmus Kristensen are just as happy in a back four or in front of a back three, while Farès Chaïbi can start in any line of the midfield.
There is strength in depth, too. Ellyes Skhiri only misses the average line-up above due to a knee complaint which has compromised his minutes. Michael Zetterer was a dependable No.1 before being displaced by Kauã Santos.
What about Riera’s Celje side? For a player with Liverpool, Manchester City and Spain on his playing C.V., Rieira’s managerial career has been somewhat more eclectic, with two spells in Slovenia (with Celje, twice, and Olimpija Ljubljana) sandwiching a season at Bordeaux. His first managerial sojourn was as assistant at another former employer in Galatasaray.
Riera has claimed not to have a favourite formation, preferring to mould a team around the qualities of the players available. “For me, there is no perfect style,” he wrote in a Coaches’ Voice column. “It all depends on the players you have.”
Celje nonetheless lined up in a 4-1-4-1 most of the way to last season’s Slovenian Cup title, with Darko Hrka shielding a defence that were expected to defend. The goals were overwhelmingly scored by striker Franko Kovačević (25) and supplied by the senior of two No.10s in Mario Kvesić (11).
How Riera’s Frankfurt will line up is likely to evolve depending on the opposition and also who impresses in training in the coming weeks and months, but Burkardt replacement Arnaud Kalimuendo’s ears, and Götze’s, might prick up at the recent experiences of Kovačević and Kvesić.
Kalimuendo can expect plenty of service from behind him, and alongside, with a 4-1-4-1 packing plenty of players in the line behind him. And if the distribution isn’t up to scratch at first, Frankfurt players can expect to find Riera joining in with training, as compatriot Xabi Alonso did at Bayer Leverkusen.
“The player’s in Frankfurt will be amazed at how he crosses the ball,” former Ljubljana boss Adam Delius told Kicker recently. “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.”
And that last part is perhaps the most important. Frankfurt already have impressive personnel, and they may now have found the former winger to unclip their wings, regardless of formation.
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