With an overwhelming majority of 99.8 percent of the 1,867 members present and entitled to vote, Mathias Beck was elected as the new president of Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday evening at the best-attended general assembly on record. He succeeds Peter Fischer, who stepped down after 24 years in office.
“I’m overwhelmed and very happy with this sensational result,” said an emotional Beck. “The incredible approval of the members means a lot to me. At the same time, I’m aware that this vote comes with great responsibility. I will approach my new role with great ambitions, commitment and passion as well as immense pride, together with my team.”
The new president’s aims
In an impressive election speech, the 52-year-old stressed the club’s superb progress in recent years. “Our club represents great tradition – but also, above all, a great future,” said Beck, and added: “We mustn’t rest on what’s been achieved. Eintracht should still be the beating heart of Frankfurt and the whole region in 100 years’ time.” He then outlined his aims to the members in attendance.
We won’t budge one centimetre from our values.
Mathias Beck, President of Eintracht Frankfurt
The qualified real estate agent would like to further expand the range of sports on offer, which already includes more than 50 sports in all areas. To this end, investments in new sports facilities under the Eintracht umbrella as well as the sustainable development of volunteering are an absolute necessity. “People's commitment is also important to me,” continued Beck. “I would like to inspire many more members to actively participate in club life. To do this, we need better incentives to strengthen volunteering.”
Further aims include the continued modernisation and digitalisation of the club. In order to achieve the aforementioned points – in particular to promote sport and invest in new sports facilities – the involvement of other companies as supporters of the club is also necessary. To this end, approaches are to be developed to generate further sponsorship and donations.
Beck also highlighted the club’s social positioning as a central element of his presidency. “We won’t budge one centimetre from our values,” he said.
