Adi Hütter is back at Eintracht Frankfurt for a second head coaching spell, and the message from the club is clear enough. Markus Krösche said he was hired to bring a “more attacking style with greater intensity”, after Frankfurt finished 8th in 2025/26 and missed out on Europe. Jonathan Burkardt is already set to lead the line.

Hütter's attacking reset

Krösche's wording points to the real task waiting for Hütter. Frankfurt conceded 65 Bundesliga goals last term and collected only 4 points from 8 Champions League matches, so the brief is not just about looking livelier in possession. It is about making the team harder to live with in both directions.

The early signs of that approach are already visible in the way Hütter spoke about Burkardt. “Jonny is simply a guaranteed starter, that's clear. He's just a striker who scores goals,” he said. Burkardt scored a team-high 13 Bundesliga goals in 2025/26, which is why Frankfurt are leaning on him as the clearest attacking reference point.

Hütter's wider squad also suggests some room for a higher-energy setup, with Raphael Onyedika one of the names who fits a more aggressive midfield. He completed 90 percent of his passes last term and won 56 percent of his attempted tackles, a profile that lines up with the kind of quicker, more combative football Frankfurt are aiming for.

Burkardt and the goalkeeper call

Burkardt is the straightforward part of the selection picture. He scored 13 league goals despite missing time with a calf injury, and Hütter has already made him the guaranteed starter. Frankfurt need that kind of certainty, especially after a season that ended in 8th place.

The goalkeeper situation is the less settled part. Hütter said, “We'll go into the game with Kauã Santos, and then we'll see what happens”, so Eintracht Frankfurt's opener will begin with Kauã Santos in goal. Michael Zetterer was demoted again, and Noah Atubolu remains only a possibility, not a confirmed move.

Frankfurt's first three fixtures are Union Berlin away, Augsburg at home and Mainz away. Those games should tell Hütter quickly whether the new attacking brief is taking hold or whether the team still needs more work before the season settles.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →