Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed the appointment of Albert Riera as their new head coach, with the Spaniard set to take over from February 2 following his departure from Slovenian side Celje.

The Bundesliga club announced on Friday that the 43-year-old has signed a contract running until June 30, 2028. Reports suggest Frankfurt agreed to pay a transfer fee of €1.3 million to secure his services.

Sporting director Markus Krösche explained that Riera was chosen for his progressive approach and clear footballing philosophy.

“In Albert Riera, we have deliberately selected a coach who plays modern, intensive, and attacking football,” Krösche said. “He brings international experience, strong ideas, and a structured approach to working with the team. On a personal level, he is also an excellent fit for our club.”

Frankfurt added that Riera requested permission to lead Celje in one final match against Maribor on Sunday before officially beginning his new role.

Riera enjoyed a wide-ranging playing career, representing 11 clubs, including Liverpool, Galatasaray, and Espanyol, as well as a short loan spell at Manchester City. He also earned 16 caps for Spain.

After retiring, he worked as an assistant coach at Galatasaray before moving into management with Olimpija Ljubljana, where he won both the league and cup. A later spell at Bordeaux ended after nine months when promotion was not achieved.

He returned to Slovenia with Celje, guiding the club to Slovenian Cup success and building a commanding 12-point lead at the top of the league.

Frankfurt turned to Riera after dismissing Dino Toppmöller in mid-January following a disappointing run of results. Although Toppmöller led the club to a third-place Bundesliga finish last season — their best in 30 years — performances declined sharply this campaign.

After 19 league matches, Frankfurt sit eighth in the table, nine points adrift of the Champions League qualification places, and were eliminated from European competition before the final group-stage matchday.

Interim coaches Dennis Schmitt and Alexander Meier will remain in charge for Saturday’s home league match against Bayer Leverkusen before Riera officially takes over.