Home » GdS: Milan move for the ‘kings of capital gains’ in Krösche and Hardung

GdS: Milan move for the ‘kings of capital gains’ in Krösche and Hardung

It has been a long-running jibe that AC Milan have a greater focus on profits than performances, but that may be a benefit now. 

In recent years, it has been a constant mockery of the ownership for their focus on positive accounts. Indeed, it is clear that RedBird value a strong economic performance, but to suggest that it is at the risk of sporting performances isn’t right, as Gerry Cardinale has repeatedly said.


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Nevertheless, he has never shied away from wanting to do things smartly. Indeed, the American owner has put a lot of emphasis on getting the most value out of the Euro.

Kings of capital gain

With Markus Krösche and Timmo Hardung, he seems likely to get that. In the past three seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt, they have overseen profits of €150 million in the mercato whilst remaining competitive.

It is for this reason why Gazzetta dello Sport called the duo the ‘kings of capital gains’ in this morning’s edition, as seen below.

They may be seen as a risk, but their models are proven to work. Krösche relies on algorithms and layers of data to make decisions, especially when it comes to selling players. For example, he sold Omar Marmoush, Randal Kolo Muani and Hugo Ekitike for a combined total of €244m.

At Frankfurt, Krösche leads a team of 70, whilst him and Hardung use algorithms to decide on signings with a scouting network across the goal.

If there were any doubts about them being able to win, under Krösche’s leadership, Frankfurt won the Europa League and reached the Champions League twice, a fantastic achievement.

The new style of Milan

In terms of the style of their Milan, they are keen to build with young talents and it doesn’t necessarily need to be star-studded, as proven when Krösche rejected the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.

He is fine with mistakes from youth stars and prefers to then offer them dedicated sessions to improve.

In terms of their football, they want bold football that excites fans and may at times be risky, a little like themselves in that manner.

GdS Krösche Hardung
Tags AC Milan Markus Krösche Timmo Hardung

12 Comments

  1. He signed Kolo Muani on a free?
    Already smarter than Milan previous directors who passed on him for Origi

  2. You mean a selling club with no ambition is hiring directors who are good at selling players? I’m shocked, what a revolutionary move.

  3. The problem is that Milan will have a small transfer budget in addition to self financing. So you may as well need Capital Gains geniuses to find cheap young gems to keep Milan in the top half of the table this season…

  4. Inter won tropies almost every years even they said it’s financialy shinking ship but fans happy players happy & boards maybe not,
    Milan got financial scudetto every years w/ profit 5 – 15m/ year, no trophy but boards happy, fans & players???

    1. And they went bankrupt in the process. We’ve won 2 trophies in the past 4 years. These guys have won the Europa League, and actually made Frankfurt competitive, seeing as the league itself doesn’t have financial power and we need to make money off players do it, we’ve done it even in Berlusconi’s days, always good to have pieces on the board to move around. To win in 98/99 we sold 12 players, including Desailly, Savicevic and Kluivert. In 02/03 to win the Champions League we sold 15 players, including club legends Demetrio Albertini, and Marco Simone. We always need to have pieces to throw around.

  5. Milan is not Eintracht Frankfurt, expectationsa are different and the history is different.

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