Joti Chatzialexiou leaves Nürnberg for Eintracht Frankfurt as sporting director

Frankfurt's search ends at Nürnberg

Eintracht Frankfurt has reportedly settled on Joti Chatzialexiou, the 50-year-old sporting director of 1. FC Nürnberg, as successor to Markus Krösche. Bild reported that the Frankfurt supervisory board backed him unanimously after a meeting at Frankfurt airport late on Friday, 30 October. Sky reported that he had already signed a contract, and kicker described the deal as settled. Neither club had officially confirmed the move when the reports appeared on 31 October. Frankfurt parted ways with Krösche in mid-October. Chatzialexiou, who was born in Frankfurt, previously worked as a youth coach at Eintracht before building a career at the German Football Association, and he joined Nürnberg as sporting director in summer 2024.

Start date and fee still open

According to kicker, as relayed by N-tv, Chatzialexiou would take up his post in Frankfurt on 1 February 2027 on a contract running until 30 June 2030. Other reports said the clubs were checking whether the switch could happen in January 2027, before the winter transfer window closes. Frankfurter Rundschau reported that the fee would be below one million euros, a figure Chatzialexiou secured when he extended his Nürnberg contract in early August. N-tv, however, reported that a special exit clause would allow Frankfurt to commit for less than 500,000 euros. It is unresolved whether Nürnberg keeps him in post until the move, and kicker reported that an immediate release is also possible. Until he starts, Frankfurt must handle sporting planning and the winter window with its existing leadership structure.

Nürnberg's reaction

Nürnberg coach Miroslav Klose confirmed the departure at a press conference ahead of his side's match at FC St. Pauli on Sunday, 1 November, which kicks off at 13:30. Klose said he had learned of the move officially that morning, and he described Chatzialexiou as a close confidant who had brought him to Nürnberg as coach in summer 2024.

“I found out officially this morning.”

Klose said such moves are normal in the business and that he trusts the club to find a suitable successor. On the promotion race, in which Nürnberg is competing in its third season under Klose, he said:

“Our goal is that we stay in the mix for as long as we can.”

The club said it would issue a statement later on the day.

Player sales under Chatzialexiou

Under Chatzialexiou, Nürnberg sold Finn Jeltsch for 9.5 million euros, Caspar Jander for 12 million euros and Can Uzun for 13 million euros.

Finn Jeltsch9.5

Caspar Jander12

Can Uzun13

Finn Jeltsch

9.5 million euros

Caspar Jander

12 million euros

Can Uzun

13 million euros

Data from the article text

The club bought Mohamed Alì Zoma from AlbinoLeffe in Serie C for 1.5 million euros, and the Italian international now has a market value of 20 million euros. Zoma reportedly had lucrative offers from abroad last summer but chose to stay in Nürnberg. Chatzialexiou's eye for talent and his network in football are cited as the reasons he fits Frankfurt's profile. Krösche built a squad at Eintracht from low-cost signings and resold them at a profit, and the same approach is now expected from his successor.