Borussia Dortmund have parted ways with head coach Nuri Sahin following a disappointing 2-1 Champions League loss to Bologna on Tuesday. The decision, announced on Wednesday, comes amidst a poor run of form that has seen the club suffer four consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Sporting CEO Lars Ricken cited a “loss of faith” in Sahin’s ability to meet the club’s sporting objectives. “The decision hurts… but was unavoidable after the game in Bologna. We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, and we hope for a long collaboration. Until the end, we had hope that we could achieve a sporting turnaround together,” Ricken said.
Dortmund, currently sitting 10th in the Bundesliga table and 20 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich, have endured a challenging season. Their struggles extend beyond domestic competitions, with the team narrowly clinging to hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages despite the loss to Bologna.
Sahin, 36, was promoted to head coach in the summer after serving as an assistant to Edin Terzic during Dortmund’s remarkable run to last season’s Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid.
“Unfortunately, I was not able to live up to Dortmund’s sporting ambitions at this point in time. I wish this special club all the best,” Sahin said in a statement following his dismissal.
The club has appointed U19 coach Mike Tullberg as interim head coach. Tullberg will oversee Dortmund’s next match, a Bundesliga home clash against Werder Bremen on Saturday.
The search for a permanent replacement is already underway. German media have speculated that former Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag or ex-Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt could be potential candidates.
Sahin’s tenure adds to a history of managerial instability at Dortmund. Since the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2015, the club has cycled through eight head coaches, with only Lucien Favre managing to stay beyond two years.
Despite the setback, Dortmund remains committed to nurturing former players in leadership roles. Sahin, a product of the club’s youth system and a member of their 2011 Bundesliga-winning squad, had also played for Real Madrid and Liverpool before transitioning to management.
Sahin’s first managerial stint at Antalyaspor saw mixed success, with the Turkish club finishing seventh and 13th under his guidance before he joined Dortmund as an assistant in January 2023.
While Dortmund’s home ground, the Westfalenstadion, remains a fortress, their away record under Sahin has been dismal, with nine losses in 15 matches this season. Coupled with early exits in the German Cup and ongoing league struggles, the club faces significant challenges as they look to rebuild.
For Dortmund fans, the focus now shifts to stability and the possibility of a fresh start under new leadership. As Bconcluded, “We remain committed to achieving our goals for this season and beyond.”
