After Eberl’s resignation: Rettig calls for a rethink

The former managing director of the German Football League (DFL), Andreas Rettig (58), called for a rethink in society after the resignation of Gladbach’s manager Max Eberl.

“In my opinion, employers are obliged to send their employees on compulsory vacation from time to time. There needs to be a rethink so that vacations or time off are not seen as a weakness. People then like to say: He’s no longer on fire, he’s lazy that’s just responsible,” said the CEO of the third division club Viktoria Köln.

He has “great respect for this step” from Eberl, said the experienced former Bundesliga manager: “Football is transparent, everyone has a say and has their opinion. There is permanent mental stress, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A manager is required in the office from Monday to Friday, Saturday/Sunday is the game, and then the new week begins again.”

However, Rettig sees a change in consciousness. “On the one hand, there is a rejuvenation process taking place in the managerial area,” he said. “Rudi Völler and Michael Zorc will soon be retiring. This is also a result of the pressure. The older you get, the less willing you are to withstand this pressure to want.”

In addition, the times of “the one-man show in the managerial area” as with Uli Hoeneß, Reiner Calmund or Rudi Assauer are over. “In many clubs, responsibility is shared among several decision-makers. The players have what is known as load control, and we also have to rethink those responsible in this area,” said the Viktoria managing director.