Adi Hütter returns to Eintracht Frankfurt as head coach, signing a contract until 2029

The comeback is official

Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed the return of Adi Hütter as their new head coach. The 56-year-old Austrian has signed a contract that runs until 30 June 2029 and will officially begin his role on 1 July. He succeeds the Spaniard Albert Riera, whose tenure was described as brief and turbulent. Hütter previously managed the club from 2018 to 2021.

For me, it is something very special and emotional to be the coach of Eintracht again. The time we had together in Frankfurt shaped me and I have never forgotten it. In retrospect, I always had the feeling that I was not yet finished.

A familiar face for a fresh start

Hütter is no stranger to Eintracht, and the club views his familiarity with its structures, environment, and key personnel as a major advantage. Board spokesman Axel Hellmann has already signalled that a significant squad overhaul is planned this summer, describing it as a deliberate and necessary upheaval. Hütter and sporting director Krösche will be responsible for assembling a competitive team.

We will not only experience a major upheaval, but this time we will really want it.

The first spell and a difficult exit

During his first stint in Frankfurt, Hütter led the team to the semi-finals of both the Europa League and the DFB-Pokal in 2019. His departure for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer of 2021, however, was controversial. He announced the move during the final phase of the season while Frankfurt sat in fourth place. The team subsequently squandered a seven-point cushion and missed out on Champions League qualification. The club has since indicated that past differences have been resolved.

Hütter's journey since leaving

After leaving Frankfurt, Hütter's time at Gladbach ended after just one season. He then took charge of AS Monaco, guiding the French club into the Champions League twice before being dismissed on 10 October 2025. He had been without a club until this appointment. Hütter becomes the eighth coach in Eintracht Frankfurt's history to be given a second spell at the helm, joining names such as Armin Veh and Dragoslav Stepanovic.

The task ahead

Frankfurt finished eighth in the Bundesliga last season, missing out on a place in European competition. Hütter's immediate mission is to restore stability after the short-lived Riera era and steer the club back onto the continental stage. The rebuilding project will be a central theme of the summer as the club aims to return to the levels reached during Hütter's first tenure.