Football Season Guide

A campaign that promised much ended on a disappointing note for Eintracht Frankfurt last season as they finished in the bottom half of the table while also losing out in the DFB Cup final. Frankfurt had enjoyed an excellent first half of last season and had emerged as surprise challengers for a top four spot but injuries finally took their toll on the team as they limped over the finish line in terms of the league campaign, ending the season in 11th place, while losing out to Borussia Dortmund in the cup final. Despite the poor finish, coach Niko Kovac will not be too disheartened as he easily managed to achieve Frankfurt's minimum aim of staying clear of the relegation zone but will be aware that his side has to repeat that effort if they are to build on and push closer to the top seven. Frankfurt will need bodies and they have been busy in the transfer window reshuffling their squad as Michael Hector, Jesus Vallejo and Ante Rebic have all returned back to their respective parent clubs after the end of their loan spells. Haris Seferovic has also moved on while Bastian Oczipka has been sold to rivals Schalke. Sebastien Haller has been the club's biggest outlay in the summer so far and Kovac will be hoping that he will prove to be more of a success than some of the other strikers that Frankfurt have brought in over the last couple of seasons. Kovac has also boosted his options in the defence with Jetro Willems expected to replace Oczipka while Carlos Salcedo has been signed on loan from Guadalajara. Injuries had cost Frankfurt at least a place in the top half last season and they will be heading into the new campaign with a lengthy list of absentees once again but Kovac will hope that the available players will help his side get off to another good start this time around.