AC Milan Look for a Sporting Director: Krösche Tops the List
While the managerial announcement is awaited, AC Milan are simultaneously working on defining their sporting structure. The Rossoneri have reportedly identified Markus Krösche, current head of sport at Eintracht Frankfurt, as the ideal candidate for the sporting director role — or more precisely, for that of technical director, a modern figure that goes beyond the classic concept of a sporting director to encompass a broader, long-term strategic vision.
The news fits into a period of great activity at Milan, which, following a difficult season, is now tasked with a genuine rebuild — not just on the pitch but within the club’s internal structure. Having a competent executive with a clear methodology and a proven ability to build competitive squads is an absolute priority.
Who Is Markus Krösche: The Executive Who Adds Value to Players
German, born in 1980, Krösche has built a solid reputation in European football through his work first at RB Leipzig and then at Eintracht Frankfurt. In both environments he demonstrated a remarkable ability to identify talent, develop it and sell it for significant fees, generating substantial capital gains without sacrificing the squad’s competitiveness.
His working model is based on targeted acquisitions — often at reasonable prices — and high-value resales, an approach that fits perfectly with the RedBird model, centred on player trading and self-financing. It is a philosophy that has been successfully applied at other European clubs and could represent the turning point for Milan’s revival.
The Contractual Hurdle and the Alternatives
Bringing Krösche to Milan, however, will not be straightforward. The German executive is still under contract with Eintracht Frankfurt, meaning AC Milan would need to pay a compensation fee to release him — an additional cost that requires careful consideration, especially at a time when resources must be managed prudently.
For this reason, the club is also evaluating more accessible alternative profiles. Among them, the name of Sebastian Kehl stands out — an experienced figure in German football with a professional background spanning Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Fenerbahçe. Kehl’s advantage is that he is currently without a contract, making his acquisition considerably less costly.
The Sporting Model AC Milan Wants to Build
Beyond the names, what emerges clearly is the strategic direction AC Milan intends to pursue. The club wants to appoint an executive who can build a competitive squad through smart use of resources, targeting young and dynamic profiles capable of growing and generating economic value over time.
This approach, if well implemented, could become a genuine competitive advantage. Just look at what Eintracht Frankfurt achieved in recent years under Krösche’s guidance: a mid-tier European club capable of competing at the highest level thanks to brilliant, forward-thinking sporting management.
As outlined in a recent in-depth piece, the RedBird model banks strongly on profit-driven transfers, and Krösche represents in this sense the perfect profile to embody that vision. The challenge is convincing him — and Eintracht Frankfurt — that Milan is the right destination.
AC Milan is on the move. The road to the Rossoneri’s renaissance also runs through bold and enlightened executive choices: a quality sporting director, alongside Amorim’s technical project, could truly be the winning combination to bring the Devil back where it belongs.
