In a virtual meeting, the HFV Committee for Match Operations and Football Development decided to grant Eintracht Frankfurt’s application for a second team. Accordingly, Eintracht Frankfurt II will compete in the LOTTO Hesse league from the 2022/23 season.
Markus Krösche, Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG’s board member for sport, said: “We’d like to thank everyone involved, in particular the HFV and the LOTTO Hesse league clubs, for their trust and support. The approval has formally set the course towards the further promotion of youth development at Eintracht Frankfurt. As far as our future pathway is concerned, the reintroduction of a second team is a milestone for Eintracht Frankfurt.”
HFV vice-president Torsten Becker explained: “HFV rules allow for the possibility of a second team from a professional league club to be included at association level from 1 July. The HFV Committee for Match Operations and Football Development supports this plan and would like to do its bit in promoting young local talent.”
Thorsten Bastian, association football administrator and LOTTO Hesse league referee, added: “Eintracht Frankfurt presented us with a compelling plan which emphasised that talented youngsters should be given competitive practice at the highest possible level. As the Hessian Football Association, we’re committed to promoting young talent. Among other things, this will allow younger players to gain match practice in the second team rather than go missing, as has been the case in the recent past.”
In organisational terms, the second team will be incorporated into Eintracht Frankfurt e.V.’s academy, which will thus have 11 teams from the 2022/23 season. Eintracht Frankfurt will provide further details in due course.
