In 2017, Eintracht Frankfurt’s youth academy was once again awarded the maximum three stars for its outstanding work in developing young players.

Timothy Chandler helped Eintracht to DFB Cup glory in 2018, having already been a key part of the Eagles side that lost to Borussia Dortmund in the final of the competition the season before. The same goes for Chandler’s teammate, Aymen Barkok. The duo are not only products of Eintracht Frankfurt’s outstanding youth academy, they are both part of head coach Adi Hütter’s current first-team squad. In total, over 35 Eintracht academy graduates currently ply their trade in one of Germany’s top two divisions or in international first and second tiers.

In 2017, Eintracht Frankfurt’s outstanding work at youth level once again received official recognition from Belgian agency Double PASS, who awarded the Eagles’ academy the maximum three stars on behalf of the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL). The academy had previously been rated as “very good” in 2008/2009, 2011/2012 and 2014/2015, receiving three stars on all three occasions. According to Foot PASS Deutschland’s report, “the youth academy meets high quality standards. A very good result is achieved in the category of ‘effectiveness’. Opportunities for home-grown players within the youth academy – particularly when it comes to the introduction and integration into professional football – as well as the stability of youth academy personnel meet high performance standards.”

“We’re really pleased to have received the highest honour from an independent body for the fourth time,” said Armin Kraaz, head of the youth academy at the time. “The three- star rating means Eintracht Frankfurt’s youth academy remains one of the best in Germany.”

President Peter Fischer is just as proud of the club’s outstanding achievements at youth level. “Eintracht Frankfurt would like to thank everyone who worked on the certification documents with great dedication and passion,” he said. “This outstanding result highlights once again the magnificent performance of our employees. It also confirms our belief that investing more money in youth players does not automatically mean better training, and shows that we’re using our financial resources in the best way possible.”

According to board member Fredi Bobic, the fruits of the youth academy’s labour are clearly visible in Hütter’s first-team squad: “Our youth academy gives us the ideal platform to use more home-grown players in our first team in the future,” he said. “This result acts as an incentive for us to continue on a path of close cooperation between the professional and youth departments.”

Since 2007, the strengths and weaknesses of German youth academies have been examined every three years by Double PASS on behalf of the DFL and DFB. Academies are assessed in the following categories: management level, operational management, football training, resources and effectiveness.