The partnership between the university and Eintracht Frankfurt is designed to bring academia and practice closer together in shaping the future of sport, while creating new momentum for research, teaching, and society. Both parties see each other as ideal partners in this endeavor. The framework for the cooperation is set out in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on April 30, 2026, by Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, President of Goethe University Frankfurt, and Axel Hellmann, Spokesman for the Board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG in the presence of Frankfurt Mayor and Sports Commissioner Mike Josef.
"Frankfurt sees itself as a city of sport - not only because of its major events and successful clubs, but because sport is deeply embedded in the fabric of urban life," says Mike Josef, Frankfurt's mayor and the city's sports commissioner. "Goethe University Frankfurt's decision to expand its academic engagement in this field, and to enter into a partnership with Eintracht Frankfurt, represents a significant boost to Frankfurt's standing as a center of academic excellence. It also marks an important step toward establishing an interdisciplinary hub for sports. In the longer term, this will enable Frankfurt to position itself more comprehensively within the international world of sport."
Researchers from Goethe University's Faculty of Sports Sciences recently moved into dedicated premises at Eintracht Frankfurt's newly developed "Sportquartier im Stadtwald", bringing them in direct proximity to the soccer club's home stadium as well as leading sports institutions. Prof. Dr. Karen Zentgraf is now based here, near partners such as the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the State Sports Confederation of Hesse, the Olympic Training Center, and the Carl-von-Weinberg School. Prof. Zentgraf's research focuses on the interaction of mind and body in sport. Starting in the 2025/26 winter semester, Goethe University has been offering its students tickets for Eintracht home matches through a raffle - an initiative that proved highly popular.
"Sport is a field of the future. It conveys values, promotes health, and is a major economic force. Goethe University intends to broaden and deepen its engagement in this area in the years ahead," said University President Schleiff. "With Eintracht Frankfurt, we have gained a partner with strong international visibility and a reputation for the highest professional standards - an ideal combination of academic excellence and practical expertise." The university also sees particular value in the club's experience in digitalization and sustainability.
One of the first major joint projects is the Sports Management MBA, due to launch at Goethe Business School in the 2027 summer semester. Developed and run in close collaboration with Eintracht Frankfurt, the part-time program is aimed primarily at professionals and executives working across the sports sector. It will focus strongly on innovation, technology, and media - all central pillars of future sports management.
Axel Hellmann, spokesman for the board of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG, said: "The partnership with Goethe University Frankfurt brings together talent development, research, and innovation in sport. Together, we are creating new formats at the interface of academia and practice. The Sports Management MBA is a core element of this collaboration and, for us, a flagship project."
Goethe University plans to further consolidate its sport-related expertise across disciplines under the research profile area "Science for Health", by bringing together researchers from sports science, medicine, computer science, law, and beyond. Existing examples already include the continuing education program "Conflict Resolution in National and International Sports," developed by the Faculty of Law in cooperation with the German Football League (DFL).
Image for download: https://www.uni-frankfurt.de/185380118
Caption: University President Prof. Enrico Schleiff, Frankfurt Mayor and Sports Commissioner Mike Josef, and Axel Hellmann, Board Spokesman of Eintracht Frankfurt Fußball AG (from left to right). Photo: Benjamin Heinrich
