Martin Hinteregger – Eintracht Frankfurt’s authoritative presence
Martin Hinteregger is an old soul in many ways as he resisted using a modern mobile phone until he realised that his life could not properly function without one. He also plays the violin while in January 2018, he once decided to take part in a charity Ski race without realising that it was five days before the season’s resumption as he cited him not reading his contract properly for the misunderstanding. That instance speaks to a rebellious side within the 27-year-old centre-back as after coming through the academy at Red Bull Salzburg, he decided to continue his career outside of the energy drink’s franchise.
As he was trying to force a move to Eintracht Frankfurt from Augsburg this summer, he was caught on camera drunkenly informing the world of his intentions before getting his wish a few days later. His relationship with Augsburg manager, Manuel Baum deteriorated after the duo experienced philosophical differences over playing style with Hinteregger once exclaiming that he had ‘nothing good’ to say about his manager. Baum and his playing staff were always an awkward match as he had restricted one of the Bundesliga’s underrated ball-playing centre-back duos in Martin Hinteregger and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw.
Not to say that Hinteregger did not shine at Augsburg despite the style the team played. His long-range passing has always been one of his most serviceable assets despite the system his team plays as well as his lung-bursting surges from his centre-back position. Hinteregger played both as a centre-back and defensive midfielder at youth level and in the early stages of his career with Salzburg which heavily influences the way he plays in the present. Away to Borussia Dortmund in the 2016/17 season, he drove forward from his centre-back position to play in Jan Moravek before the midfielder worked a pass for Ji Dong Won to have a shot saved before finishing the rebound.
Hinteregger also has a knack as a set-piece threat with three goals this season as after a summer of making headlines, he re-introduced himself to his Hinti Army in Frankfurt with a stunning volley from a short corner to win the season opener against Hoffenheim. His loan from Augsburg was primarily because of his issues with Baum as he had established himself as one of the better ball-playing centre-backs in the Bundesliga as he had scored a header away to Hertha Berlin a month before his move. His side then went 2-1 down after which, he instigated a well-worked move with a diagonal to Jonathan Schmid who worked a pass for Alfred Finbogasson to hold the ball up and lay a pass to Ji who applied a calm finish.
Adi Hutter and Hinteregger tend to be kindred spirits as Hutter also departed the comforts Red Bull Salzburg provided for challenges at BSC Young Boys and Eintracht Frankfurt. He loathed the idea of his role of developing players for other clubs to acquire. Hutter trusted Hinteregger for the first game after the winter break against Borussia Dortmund. The centre-back started the game by playing one of his trademark long-balls which Julian Weigl cleared off the elbow of Ante Rebic for the Croat to go through on goal and have his shot saved. Hutter’s style is not possession-focused but allows the centre-back more creative freedom in the higher areas of the pitch which perfectly utilises Hinteregger’s skillset.
As a wide centre-back, he acts as an auxiliary winger at times, driving into the opposition half to participate in wide combinations and play early crosses into the box. He also has the defensive responsibilities of defending the opposition’s wide players in 1v1 duels and making crucial last man challenges to eradicate counter-attacks. In the Europa League away match to Shakhtar Donetsk, he rose above his man to head a free-kick into the palms of Andre Pyatov which the Ukrainian pushed into the net. His high positioning then allowed Luka Jovic to move outside Danny Da Costa in the wide areas to cross for Filip Kostic to finish with aplomb.
Hinteregger is also granted space to drive forward and play his signature through balls into attack as he is playing with attacking endeavour and defensive resolve as Hutter’s on-field lieutenant. In the latter stages of the Europa League against Chelsea, Hinteregger played an incredibly accurate lofted ball to Jovic who outmuscled David Luiz and crossed for Da Costa to smash over the bar. The blonde-haired 27-year-old has adjusted to Hutter’s system by becoming one of the better long-ball distributors in the Bundesliga while being able to play line-breaking grass cutters into attacks.
The Austrian is also integral to how Hutter has adjusted to the losses of Sebastian Haller and Jovic and how Eintracht have seamlessly replaced them with Goncalo Pacienca, Andre Silva and Bas Dost. Hinteregger pumps early crosses from the deeper zones into the aerially dominant attack with Pacienca battling for aerial superiority in the box. The Portuguese striker also drops deep to receive passes from the defence, bundle past his marker and drive his team forward.
At home to Bayer Leverkusen this season, Lucas Alario played a through ball to Kai Havertz to put the wunderkind through on goal as Hinteregger lunged in with a heroic and perfectly timed last man challenge in the box. The Austrian lacks break-neck speed but is extremely efficient at defending in a high-line, pushing forward to cleverly steal the ball from opponent with impeccably clean lunges or striding back to make last man challenges when an attacker breaks through the offside trap. Hinteregger would have been an astute piece of business for many high-level clubs but Fredi Bobic made another bargain acquisition for his club.
Martin Hinteregger last man challenge
“A very good player, I knew him from my time as a Salzburg coach I remember playing a Europa League game at Celtic I thought he was playing alone against them. There he won every duel, every aerial duel everything has expired, has played out really well from behind,” said Hutter to Salzburg-based news outlet Laola earlier this year.
Hinteregger has gained more notoriety for his mishaps like being punished by the Austrian FA for reporting to camp late due to a birthday party and an issue with Germany’s National Anti-Doping agency (NADA) for being treated with a needle against Hoffenheim in an issue where he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing. Hutter has stood by him and defended him throughout all of this as the duo have built a strong bond. Despite all these mishaps, Hutter has still been able to trust Hinteregger as an authoritative presence in his backline.
