His name is constantly mentioned in connection with Max Eberl and his departure from Gladbach. Steffen Korell will pass on the sporting skills at Borussia for the time being. The kicker describes the man who decided against promotion to sports director and prefers to work in the second row.
Leads the sporting fortunes temporarily: Steffen Korell.
imago images/Ulrich Hufnagel
Steffen Korell and Max Eberl worked side by side for so many years in the management of Borussia Mönchengladbach, just as they acted side by side for years and defended the Foals’ goal together. Korell as a tough central defender or clearer in defensive midfield. Eberl as a tireless fighter on the right full-back position. The coaches appreciated the diligence and reliability of the duo, especially one who had a decisive influence on Borussia’s recent history: Hans Meyer. Today’s board member.
Korell has been with Borussia for over 21 years. In 2000, the defensive player moved from SC Freiburg to the Lower Rhine and wore the Gladbach jersey in 89 competitive games (one goal). His greatest success with the foals: promotion to the Bundesliga with Borussia in 2001 – as a regular player. In total, the 50-year-old played 117 Bundesliga games (three goals) and 190 second division games (9 goals) with FC Homburg.
Korell also engineered the big transfers
After retiring in 2005 due to cartilage damage in his knee, Korell went directly to the club’s marketing department and took over the job of team manager in 2006. In this position he worked for a long time as a link between the team and sporting management before he was promoted to Director Scouting in 2017. Discovering talent is part of Korell’s core business – a very important point at Borussia, which experienced a revival of the foal philosophy under Max Eberl.
In his work, Korell distinguishes exactly what he stood for as a player: He is hardworking, reliable, lives the team spirit and puts the well-being of the club first. His competence in the sporting field is recognized and appreciated everywhere. In Gladbach he also arranged the big transfers. The most recent of many goals in the foreign and especially French market is the signing of Kouadio “Manu” Koné, who was brought in for nine million euros from French second division club FC Toulouse.
After Eberl’s exit, Korell’s promotion was the obvious solution. The Bureau also offered him the job. But Korell is a man who prefers to work on the second line. He would like to continue working as a squad planner. “Our first point of contact was Steffen Korell,” confirms President Rolf Königs. “But he doesn’t see himself in that position. That’s why we’re going to look externally.”
As a “transitional manager”, Korell will nevertheless take the sporting skills into his own hands for the time being, supported by Vice President Rainer Bonhof and Managing Director Stephan Schippers. Then, when the new sports director starts his job (possibly even in the near future), he will take a step back.
