Borussia Dortmund Teams

At Borussia Dortmund, our teams embody passion, talent, and relentless dedication. Our players captivate fans worldwide with their dynamic style of play and unparalleled team spirit. Discover everything about our current squads across all sports and competitions. Whether it's the Bundesliga, cup matches, or international tournaments, stay informed and follow our teams on their journey to new triumphs.

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Borussia Dortmund matches

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News about the BVB Teams

24/25, Bundesliga, Bundesligasaison, Testspiel, Freundschaftsspiel, Saisoneröffnung
Samstag 10.08.2024, 1. Fussball - Bundesliga Saison 24/25 - Saisoneroeffnung in Dortmund, BV Borussia Dortmund - Aston Villa.ANzeigetafel Zuschauerzahl 81.365..Copyright:.Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA.Rheinlanddamm 207-209.44137 Dortmund..(NO IPTC-stripping allowed).EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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A 5-1 loss away to VfB Stuttgart. A 4\u20130 win at home Freiburg. A 4-2 defeat in Kiel. The first half of the season was a rollercoaster. Just when it looked like things were clicking into place, the next setback would arrive. It was Niko Kovac, appointed at the beginning of February, who brought consistency to a faltering team and, with it, success. A look back.<\/b><\/p>\n","title":"Teaser Text","multiValue":false,"value":"A 7\u20131 win over Celtic. A 5-1 loss away to VfB Stuttgart. A 4\u20130 win at home Freiburg. A 4-2 defeat in Kiel. The first half of the season was a rollercoaster. Just when it looked like things were clicking into place, the next setback would arrive. It was Niko Kovac, appointed at the beginning of February, who brought consistency to a faltering team and, with it, success. A look back.","exportedType":"text/html"},"scheduledPush":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"scheduledPush","title":"Scheduled Push Notification?","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"disableAdsOnNewsPage":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"disableAdsOnNewsPage","title":"Disable Ads on News Page","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"text":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"text","html":"After four defeats in the first four games of 2025, Borussia Dortmund chose to part ways with the first-team head coach. \u2018\u2018We greatly appreciate Nuri Sahin and his work, had hoped for a long-term collaboration and remained hopeful until the very end that we could turn things around together,\u2019\u2019 said Lars Ricken on 22 January, the day after the 2-1 defeat away to Bologna in the UEFA Champions League, adding: \u2018\u2018Unfortunately, we have lost faith that we can still achieve our goals in the current arrangement. This decision hurts me personally, but it was unavoidable after the game in Bologna.\u2019\u2019 The separation was amicable: \u201cI wish this special club all the best,\u201d said Sahin, who shaped an era at Borussia Dortmund as a player. The necessary bit of luck was not on his side in his spell as head coach.<\/p>\nU19 coach Mike Tullberg took charge of the team for for three games, immediately breathing new life into it. \u201cTen days ago, when he arrived, we were a bit dead as a team,\u201d Emre Can said after these three matches, a 2\u20132 draw against Werder Bremen, which can be considered a partial success after playing a man down for 70 minutes, a 3\u20131 win over Shakhtar Donetsk and a 2\u20131 win in Heidenheim.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/19/bl-saisonrueckblick/24-Kovac.jpg\" data-assetref=\"24-Kovac-1747658486639\"><\/p>\nAt the same time, the sporting management were working on signing an experienced head coach, ultimately opting for Niko Kovac. \u2018\u2018In our situation, external input from an experienced coach from outside the club is extremely necessary, as I am convinced that this is the way to ensure further development,\u2019\u2019 explained Ricken. And Kovac rolled up his sleeves from day one: \u2018\u2018Only those who work will get something. You don't get much for little. I'm a believer in more is more." But his debut didn't go according to plan. The match against VfB Stuttgart, dubbed the \u2018\u2018final for fourth place,\u2019\u2019 ended in a 2-1 home defeat four days after Kovac took charge. Instead of drawing level on points with the Swabians, BVB dropped six points and six places behind them. The two sides sat in 11th and fifth place at the conclusion of Matchday 21. <\/p>\nPerformances in the UEFA Champions League improved \u2013 the Black and Yellows prevailed 3-0 (away) and 0-0 (at home) against Sporting Lisbon in the play-offs, going on to face Lille in the round of 16. Following a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg, BVB picked up an encouraging 2-1 win on the road to secure passage to the quarter-finals. But the new coach's start in the Bundesliga proved tough. After a 2-0 defeat in Bochum, fourth place was seven points away. Hope that the team were finally back on track sprung up after a 6-0 rout of Union Berlin (featuring four goals from Serhou Guirassy and four assists from Pascal Gross), as well as a solid 2-0 win away to FC St. Pauli. But in Kovac's first six weeks, Borussia Dortmund still looked shaky at the best of times. The performance in the 1-0 defeat at home to FC Augsburg was shockingly poor. Kovac, who had always protected his players until then, was highly critical: \u2018\u2018No chances created, no goal threat, no aggression, no intensity, no quick ball circulation. The bottom line is that we got what we gave: nothing.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/profis/2025/03/15/bl-fakten/90M_Leipzig.jpg\" data-assetref=\"90M_Leipzig-1747658533277\">L<\/p>\nThe situation in the table became even more dire in mid-March, when tenth-placed BVB travelled to sixth-placed Leipzig. Looking to draw to within a point of their rivals with an away win, the Black & Yellows instead found themselves 2-0 down after 47 minutes. They worked hard to get back into the game, firing 21 shots on target (26 in total), but failed to find the back of the net thanks to some outstanding saves by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. After six league games, Niko Kovac's record stood at two wins and four defeats. Fourth place was now ten points away.<\/p>\nWhat followed was a final charge unlike anything ever seen in 62 years of Bundesliga football. For the first time in history, a team that were in the bottom half of the table after Matchday 27 managed to finish fourth. Borussia Dortmund achieved something unprecedented, but not something they were too proud of. The predominant emotion was relief.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/profis/2025/03/30/bl-spielbericht/87M_Mainz.jpg\" data-assetref=\"87M_Mainz-1747658635256\"><\/p>\nThe comeback began with a 3-1 victory against 1. FSV Mainz 05, who were in fourth place at this point. This was followed by a 4-1 win away to Sportclub Freiburg, their next direct rivals, and a 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich. \u2018\u2018It feels strange. We'll take the one point, even though we really needed all three,\u2018\u2018 reflected Emre Can.<\/p>\nBefore and after Munich, there was more action in the Champions League. In the quarter-final first leg, the Black & Yellows fell to a 4-0 defeat away to Barcelona. But in the second leg, they came close to causing a sensation thanks to an outstanding performance at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. In the end, all the team had to celebrate was a 3-1 win over the eventual La Liga winners and points 17 and 18 in the UEFA \u2018\u2018five-year ranking\u2019\u2019, making them the most successful German participant in the 2024/25 season ahead of Bayern (17 points), Frankfurt (15), Leverkusen (11), Heidenheim (9), Hoffenheim and Stuttgart (seven each) and Leipzig (two). In this metric, two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/19/bl-saisonrueckblick/24-BVB-Signal-Iduna-Park.jpg\" data-assetref=\"24-BVB-Signal-Iduna-Park-1747658576439\"><\/p>\nBack to the Bundesliga! The 3-2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach was not as close as the scoreline suggests, with BVB having 14 shots on goals compared to six for their opponents. BVB also won 3-2 at TSG Hoffenheim, but only by the narrowest of margins.The Black & Yellows missed a penalty and entered the final stages with a narrow but deserved 2-1 lead, which only lasted until the start of what turned out to be 13 minutes of added time. After conceding an unnecessary equaliser to make it 2-2, Borussia threw everything forward and were rewarded with a spectacular winner from Waldemar Anton in the fifth minute of added time. Borussia Dortmund were back in sixth place for the first time since Christmas, which would at least see them qualify for the UEFA Conference League.<\/p>\nA 4-0 win over Wolfsburg! Another statement win. For 24 hours, the Black & Yellows even moved up to fourth place. At the conclusion of Matchday 32, Freiburg had moved back to fourth place, albeit just one point away, with third-placed Frankfurt five points ahead. In the last away game of the season, the Black & Yellows travelled to last year's double winners Bayer Leverkusen. The game got off to a bad start; Gregor Kobel\u2019s heroics were required to prevent BVB from trailing by more than 1-0 after half an hour. But then Julian Brandt popped up to equalise from Dortmund's first real chance of the game. Julian Ryerson then turned the game on its head with a goal to make it 2-1 in the 43rd minute.  After the break, BVB controlled proceeding; goals from Adeyemi (73) and Guirassy (77) left the Werkself with no chance. The final score was 4-2. And as Frankfurt could only manage a 1-1 draw against St. Pauli two hours later, Borussia even had their Champions League qualification in their own hands going into the final matchday.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/12/bl-nachbericht/32M-BVB-Jubel.jpg\" data-assetref=\"32M-BVB-Jubel-1747658705960\"><\/p>\n\u2018\u2018The coach gave us a kick up the arse,\u2019\u2019 was how Karim Adeyemi succinctly put it after the victory in Leverkusen: \u2018\u2018He told us that we have to run, no matter who we're playing against. And that with our quality and our style of play, we'll make it very difficult for the other team.\u2019\u2019 Gregor Kobel mentions another aspect: consistency. \u2018\u2018He doesn't let much slide, which is a good thing.\u2019\u2019 The decisive parameters on the road to the Champions League were efficiency and intensity.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Under Niko Kovac, the number of shots on goal rose from 12.9 to 16.1 per game.<\/li>\n<li>The number of goals per game scored increased from 1.8 to 2.5. The number of goals conceded fell from 1.7 to 1.2 per game.<\/li>\n<li>The distance covered per game increased from 114.8 to 118.2 kilometres. In eight of the 14 games under Kovac, BVB were the team with the higher distance covered, including seven of the last eight games.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u2018\u2018What Niko has achieved here is one of the greatest coaching achievements in the history of BVB,\u2019\u2019 said Lars Ricken after the final 3-0 home win against Holstein Kiel. \u2018\u2018I did my job here,\u2019\u2019 said Kovac, emphasising: \u2018\u2018I want to make it clear that you can't achieve anything in football on your own. I don't just mean my players, but also my staff and our fans. I feel proud of what the lads have achieved.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/19/bl-saisonrueckblick/24-Jubel-BVB.jpg\" data-assetref=\"24-Jubel-BVB-1747658782415\"><\/p>\n\u2018\u2018Niko didn't always talk about game plans. He was pragmatic. It was all about running, tackling and attacking. That's what brought success,\u2019\u2019 says BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke. And captain Emre Can points to \u2018\u2018little things\u2019\u2019 that Kovac paid attention to: \u2018\u2018That's the old school. That helped us a lot.\u2019'<\/p>\nWith Niko Kovac at the helm, the only Bundesliga club apart from Bayern Munich to have qualified for the UEFA Champions League every year for the past ten years are back on track. A perfectly executed landing. \nBoris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\n","title":"Text","multiValue":false,"value":"After four defeats in the first four games of 2025, Borussia Dortmund chose to part ways with the first-team head coach. \u2018\u2018We greatly appreciate Nuri Sahin and his work, had hoped for a long-term collaboration and remained hopeful until the very end that we could turn things around together,\u2019\u2019 said Lars Ricken on 22 January, the day after the 2-1 defeat away to Bologna in the UEFA Champions League, adding: \u2018\u2018Unfortunately, we have lost faith that we can still achieve our goals in the current arrangement. This decision hurts me personally, but it was unavoidable after the game in Bologna.\u2019\u2019 The separation was amicable: \u201cI wish this special club all the best,\u201d said Sahin, who shaped an era at Borussia Dortmund as a player. The necessary bit of luck was not on his side in his spell as head coach.<\/p>\nU19 coach Mike Tullberg took charge of the team for for three games, immediately breathing new life into it. \u201cTen days ago, when he arrived, we were a bit dead as a team,\u201d Emre Can said after these three matches, a 2\u20132 draw against Werder Bremen, which can be considered a partial success after playing a man down for 70 minutes, a 3\u20131 win over Shakhtar Donetsk and a 2\u20131 win in Heidenheim.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/19/bl-saisonrueckblick/24-Kovac.jpg\" data-assetref=\"24-Kovac-1747658486639\"><\/p>\nAt the same time, the sporting management were working on signing an experienced head coach, ultimately opting for Niko Kovac. \u2018\u2018In our situation, external input from an experienced coach from outside the club is extremely necessary, as I am convinced that this is the way to ensure further development,\u2019\u2019 explained Ricken. And Kovac rolled up his sleeves from day one: \u2018\u2018Only those who work will get something. You don't get much for little. I'm a believer in more is more." But his debut didn't go according to plan. The match against VfB Stuttgart, dubbed the \u2018\u2018final for fourth place,\u2019\u2019 ended in a 2-1 home defeat four days after Kovac took charge. Instead of drawing level on points with the Swabians, BVB dropped six points and six places behind them. The two sides sat in 11th and fifth place at the conclusion of Matchday 21. <\/p>\nPerformances in the UEFA Champions League improved \u2013 the Black and Yellows prevailed 3-0 (away) and 0-0 (at home) against Sporting Lisbon in the play-offs, going on to face Lille in the round of 16. Following a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg, BVB picked up an encouraging 2-1 win on the road to secure passage to the quarter-finals. But the new coach's start in the Bundesliga proved tough. After a 2-0 defeat in Bochum, fourth place was seven points away. Hope that the team were finally back on track sprung up after a 6-0 rout of Union Berlin (featuring four goals from Serhou Guirassy and four assists from Pascal Gross), as well as a solid 2-0 win away to FC St. Pauli. But in Kovac's first six weeks, Borussia Dortmund still looked shaky at the best of times. The performance in the 1-0 defeat at home to FC Augsburg was shockingly poor. Kovac, who had always protected his players until then, was highly critical: \u2018\u2018No chances created, no goal threat, no aggression, no intensity, no quick ball circulation. The bottom line is that we got what we gave: nothing.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/profis/2025/03/15/bl-fakten/90M_Leipzig.jpg\" data-assetref=\"90M_Leipzig-1747658533277\">L<\/p>\nThe situation in the table became even more dire in mid-March, when tenth-placed BVB travelled to sixth-placed Leipzig. Looking to draw to within a point of their rivals with an away win, the Black & Yellows instead found themselves 2-0 down after 47 minutes. They worked hard to get back into the game, firing 21 shots on target (26 in total), but failed to find the back of the net thanks to some outstanding saves by Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. After six league games, Niko Kovac's record stood at two wins and four defeats. Fourth place was now ten points away.<\/p>\nWhat followed was a final charge unlike anything ever seen in 62 years of Bundesliga football. For the first time in history, a team that were in the bottom half of the table after Matchday 27 managed to finish fourth. Borussia Dortmund achieved something unprecedented, but not something they were too proud of. The predominant emotion was relief.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/profis/2025/03/30/bl-spielbericht/87M_Mainz.jpg\" data-assetref=\"87M_Mainz-1747658635256\"><\/p>\nThe comeback began with a 3-1 victory against 1. FSV Mainz 05, who were in fourth place at this point. This was followed by a 4-1 win away to Sportclub Freiburg, their next direct rivals, and a 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich. \u2018\u2018It feels strange. We'll take the one point, even though we really needed all three,\u2018\u2018 reflected Emre Can.<\/p>\nBefore and after Munich, there was more action in the Champions League. In the quarter-final first leg, the Black & Yellows fell to a 4-0 defeat away to Barcelona. But in the second leg, they came close to causing a sensation thanks to an outstanding performance at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK. In the end, all the team had to celebrate was a 3-1 win over the eventual La Liga winners and points 17 and 18 in the UEFA \u2018\u2018five-year ranking\u2019\u2019, making them the most successful German participant in the 2024/25 season ahead of Bayern (17 points), Frankfurt (15), Leverkusen (11), Heidenheim (9), Hoffenheim and Stuttgart (seven each) and Leipzig (two). In this metric, two points are awarded for a win and one point for a draw.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/19/bl-saisonrueckblick/24-BVB-Signal-Iduna-Park.jpg\" data-assetref=\"24-BVB-Signal-Iduna-Park-1747658576439\"><\/p>\nBack to the Bundesliga! The 3-2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach was not as close as the scoreline suggests, with BVB having 14 shots on goals compared to six for their opponents. BVB also won 3-2 at TSG Hoffenheim, but only by the narrowest of margins.The Black & Yellows missed a penalty and entered the final stages with a narrow but deserved 2-1 lead, which only lasted until the start of what turned out to be 13 minutes of added time. After conceding an unnecessary equaliser to make it 2-2, Borussia threw everything forward and were rewarded with a spectacular winner from Waldemar Anton in the fifth minute of added time. Borussia Dortmund were back in sixth place for the first time since Christmas, which would at least see them qualify for the UEFA Conference League.<\/p>\nA 4-0 win over Wolfsburg! Another statement win. For 24 hours, the Black & Yellows even moved up to fourth place. At the conclusion of Matchday 32, Freiburg had moved back to fourth place, albeit just one point away, with third-placed Frankfurt five points ahead. In the last away game of the season, the Black & Yellows travelled to last year's double winners Bayer Leverkusen. The game got off to a bad start; Gregor Kobel\u2019s heroics were required to prevent BVB from trailing by more than 1-0 after half an hour. But then Julian Brandt popped up to equalise from Dortmund's first real chance of the game. Julian Ryerson then turned the game on its head with a goal to make it 2-1 in the 43rd minute.  After the break, BVB controlled proceeding; goals from Adeyemi (73) and Guirassy (77) left the Werkself with no chance. The final score was 4-2. And as Frankfurt could only manage a 1-1 draw against St. Pauli two hours later, Borussia even had their Champions League qualification in their own hands going into the final matchday.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/12/bl-nachbericht/32M-BVB-Jubel.jpg\" data-assetref=\"32M-BVB-Jubel-1747658705960\"><\/p>\n\u2018\u2018The coach gave us a kick up the arse,\u2019\u2019 was how Karim Adeyemi succinctly put it after the victory in Leverkusen: \u2018\u2018He told us that we have to run, no matter who we're playing against. And that with our quality and our style of play, we'll make it very difficult for the other team.\u2019\u2019 Gregor Kobel mentions another aspect: consistency. \u2018\u2018He doesn't let much slide, which is a good thing.\u2019\u2019 The decisive parameters on the road to the Champions League were efficiency and intensity.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Under Niko Kovac, the number of shots on goal rose from 12.9 to 16.1 per game.<\/li>\n<li>The number of goals per game scored increased from 1.8 to 2.5. The number of goals conceded fell from 1.7 to 1.2 per game.<\/li>\n<li>The distance covered per game increased from 114.8 to 118.2 kilometres. In eight of the 14 games under Kovac, BVB were the team with the higher distance covered, including seven of the last eight games.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\u2018\u2018What Niko has achieved here is one of the greatest coaching achievements in the history of BVB,\u2019\u2019 said Lars Ricken after the final 3-0 home win against Holstein Kiel. \u2018\u2018I did my job here,\u2019\u2019 said Kovac, emphasising: \u2018\u2018I want to make it clear that you can't achieve anything in football on your own. I don't just mean my players, but also my staff and our fans. I feel proud of what the lads have achieved.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/19/bl-saisonrueckblick/24-Jubel-BVB.jpg\" data-assetref=\"24-Jubel-BVB-1747658782415\"><\/p>\n\u2018\u2018Niko didn't always talk about game plans. He was pragmatic. It was all about running, tackling and attacking. That's what brought success,\u2019\u2019 says BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke. And captain Emre Can points to \u2018\u2018little things\u2019\u2019 that Kovac paid attention to: \u2018\u2018That's the old school. That helped us a lot.\u2019'<\/p>\nWith Niko Kovac at the helm, the only Bundesliga club apart from Bayern Munich to have qualified for the UEFA Champions League every year for the past ten years are back on track. A perfectly executed landing. \nBoris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\n","exportedType":"text/html"},"id":"editable-a33a182adc","prio":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"prio","title":"Prio (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"headline":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"headline","title":"Headline","multiValue":false,"value":"A rollercoaster ride into Europe\u2019s elite","exportedType":"text/plain"},"matchId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"matchId","title":"match id","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"data-layer":"{\"editable-a33a182adc\":{\"@type\":\"/apps/bvbweb/components/newssliderelements/editable\",\"linkUrl\":\"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/5/19/A-rollercoaster-ride-into-Europes-elite.html\"}}","author":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"author","title":"Author","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"teaserType":"relatedContent","match":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"content-fragment","name":"match","title":"Related Match","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"alt":"24M-Jubel-BVB-2.jpg","externalId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"externalId","title":"External ID (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":"-6618759","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayOnHome":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"displayOnHome","title":"Display in news wall on homepage","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"url":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"url","title":"Vanity URL (LEAVE EMPTY FOR AUTOMATIC VANITY URL. 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24/25, Bundesliga, Bundesligasaison, Trainingsauftakt
Donnerstag 11.07.2024, 1. Fussball - Bundesliga Saison 24/25 - Training in Dortmund, .BV Borussia Dortmund - Trainingsauftakt - .Felix Nmecha (BVB)..Copyright:.Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA.Rheinlanddamm 207-209.44137 Dortmund..(NO IPTC-stripping allowed).EDITORIAL USE ONLY

{"subCategory":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"subCategory","title":"Departments","multiValue":true,"value":"Post-Match Report","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayTag":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"displayTag","title":"Display Department","multiValue":true,"value":[""],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"metadescription":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"metadescription","title":"Meta Description","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"linkTarget":"_self","link":"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/5/19/Niklas-Suele-describes-BVB-fans-as-a-competitive-advantage.html","stageImages":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"stageImages","title":"Image (Stage Image)","multiValue":true,"value":["/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25M-Jubel-BVB.jpg"],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"experience":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"experience","title":"Experience Fragment","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"appExport":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"appExport","title":"App Export (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"showDate":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"calendar","name":"showDate","title":"Show Date and Time (CET)","multiValue":false,"value":"18.05.25 18:19 Z","exportedType":"calendar"},"teaserText":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"teaserText","html":"It was the battle cry of the eighties that echoed through SIGNAL IDUNA PARK late on Saturday afternoon. "BVB are back!" chanted the crowd. One of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Bundesliga took Borussia Dortmund to fourth place in the table on the final matchday of the 2024/25 season and into the UEFA Champions League.<\/p>\n","title":"Teaser Text","multiValue":false,"value":"It was the battle cry of the eighties that echoed through SIGNAL IDUNA PARK late on Saturday afternoon. \"BVB are back!\" chanted the crowd. One of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Bundesliga took Borussia Dortmund to fourth place in the table on the final matchday of the 2024/25 season and into the UEFA Champions League.","exportedType":"text/html"},"scheduledPush":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"scheduledPush","title":"Scheduled Push Notification?","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"disableAdsOnNewsPage":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"disableAdsOnNewsPage","title":"Disable Ads on News Page","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"text":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"text","html":"\u201cIf it's not euphoria you're hearing right now, then what is it?\u201d asked managing director Lars Ricken to his interlocutor, Sky reporter Patrick Wasserziehr, who had started his segment with the words: \u201cNow the atmosphere here is slowly but surely starting to feel as if Borussia Dortmund had really won something\u201d. The fans repeatedly belted out the popular chant \u201cEuropapokal - Borussia Dortmund international!\u201d interspersed with shouts of \u201cNiko Kovac.\u201d <\/p>\nThe thanks of the spectators and the management team - from Hans-Joachim Watzke to Ricken and sporting director Sebastian Kehl - went to the man who took charge of Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of February, when the team\u2019s prospects of a tenth Champions League appearance in a row and 20th in total seemed hopeless. In the \u201cKovac table\u201d, starting on Matchday 21, Borussia Dortmund are second with 28 points, just three behind Bayern Munich (31). This upturn in fortunes was enough to see the Black & Yellows jump from 11th to fourth place. The team picked up 22 out of a possible 24 points from the final eight games. Only Bayern Munich (unbeaten on the first 13 matchdays) and Bayer Leverkusen (undefeated from matchdays 2 to 24) managed longer streaks this season.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25-Kovac.jpg\" data-assetref=\"25-Kovac-1747594908517\"><\/p>\n\u201cThe season was one of big ups and downs,\u201d said Niklas Süle. He emphasised \u201chow we've marched on in recent weeks, how we've stood together,\u201d and thanked the fans who have supported the team throughout the season: \u201cIt's a bit of a competitive advantage that we have here at home. And it's all the nicer to celebrate with them here.\u201d Relief, joy, euphoria - Felix Nmecha felt \u201ca bit of everything\u201d. For him, too, the \u201cjoy that we've made it and that we'll be playing in the Champions League next season,\u201d was the prevailing emotion.<\/p>\nThere was an exuberant atmosphere in the stands and on the pitch after a tough first half against Holstein Kiel. The early lead (third minute, Guirassy penalty) and the early numerical advantage (eighth minute, Johansson sent off) initially did not play into Borussia\u2019s hands, \u201cbecause we were overcomplicating things,\u201d said Julian Brandt: \u201cWhen we have a lot of time, we think too much, make the wrong decisions and play ponderously and slowly.\u201d Niklas Süle took a similar view: \u201cI think we would have played better football if it had been 11 versus 11.\u201d<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25-Suele.jpg\" data-assetref=\"25-Suele-1747594933677\"><\/p>\nIt didn't matter in the end. Marcel Sabitzer's long-range strike shortly after the start of the second half unpicked the lock, and after Felix Nmecha's goal to make it 3-0 (73), the game and the outcome of the season were decided. As Frankfurt came from behind in Freiburg, goal difference was no longer important. Either way, the Black & Yellows had reached the finish line.<\/p>\nRicken praised Kovac's three-month tenure as \u201cone of the greatest coaching achievements in BVB's history.\u201d Kovac himself was asked about \u201cthe greatest coaching achievement,\u201d this time without the important qualifier \u201cone of\u201d, and was keen to stress the successes of \u201cother great coaches here,\u201d like Jürgen Klopp and Ottmar Hitzfeld.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25-Sued.jpg\" data-assetref=\"25-Sued-1747594952209\"><\/p>\nThe latter actually led the Black & Yellows from 13th place after Matchday 24 to fourth place at the end of the 1993/94 season. Incidentally, Lars Ricken was in the squad as a player 31 years ago. \nBoris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\n","title":"Text","multiValue":false,"value":"\u201cIf it's not euphoria you're hearing right now, then what is it?\u201d asked managing director Lars Ricken to his interlocutor, Sky reporter Patrick Wasserziehr, who had started his segment with the words: \u201cNow the atmosphere here is slowly but surely starting to feel as if Borussia Dortmund had really won something\u201d. The fans repeatedly belted out the popular chant \u201cEuropapokal - Borussia Dortmund international!\u201d interspersed with shouts of \u201cNiko Kovac.\u201d <\/p>\nThe thanks of the spectators and the management team - from Hans-Joachim Watzke to Ricken and sporting director Sebastian Kehl - went to the man who took charge of Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of February, when the team\u2019s prospects of a tenth Champions League appearance in a row and 20th in total seemed hopeless. In the \u201cKovac table\u201d, starting on Matchday 21, Borussia Dortmund are second with 28 points, just three behind Bayern Munich (31). This upturn in fortunes was enough to see the Black & Yellows jump from 11th to fourth place. The team picked up 22 out of a possible 24 points from the final eight games. Only Bayern Munich (unbeaten on the first 13 matchdays) and Bayer Leverkusen (undefeated from matchdays 2 to 24) managed longer streaks this season.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25-Kovac.jpg\" data-assetref=\"25-Kovac-1747594908517\"><\/p>\n\u201cThe season was one of big ups and downs,\u201d said Niklas Süle. He emphasised \u201chow we've marched on in recent weeks, how we've stood together,\u201d and thanked the fans who have supported the team throughout the season: \u201cIt's a bit of a competitive advantage that we have here at home. And it's all the nicer to celebrate with them here.\u201d Relief, joy, euphoria - Felix Nmecha felt \u201ca bit of everything\u201d. For him, too, the \u201cjoy that we've made it and that we'll be playing in the Champions League next season,\u201d was the prevailing emotion.<\/p>\nThere was an exuberant atmosphere in the stands and on the pitch after a tough first half against Holstein Kiel. The early lead (third minute, Guirassy penalty) and the early numerical advantage (eighth minute, Johansson sent off) initially did not play into Borussia\u2019s hands, \u201cbecause we were overcomplicating things,\u201d said Julian Brandt: \u201cWhen we have a lot of time, we think too much, make the wrong decisions and play ponderously and slowly.\u201d Niklas Süle took a similar view: \u201cI think we would have played better football if it had been 11 versus 11.\u201d<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25-Suele.jpg\" data-assetref=\"25-Suele-1747594933677\"><\/p>\nIt didn't matter in the end. Marcel Sabitzer's long-range strike shortly after the start of the second half unpicked the lock, and after Felix Nmecha's goal to make it 3-0 (73), the game and the outcome of the season were decided. As Frankfurt came from behind in Freiburg, goal difference was no longer important. Either way, the Black & Yellows had reached the finish line.<\/p>\nRicken praised Kovac's three-month tenure as \u201cone of the greatest coaching achievements in BVB's history.\u201d Kovac himself was asked about \u201cthe greatest coaching achievement,\u201d this time without the important qualifier \u201cone of\u201d, and was keen to stress the successes of \u201cother great coaches here,\u201d like Jürgen Klopp and Ottmar Hitzfeld.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/18/bl-nachbericht/25-Sued.jpg\" data-assetref=\"25-Sued-1747594952209\"><\/p>\nThe latter actually led the Black & Yellows from 13th place after Matchday 24 to fourth place at the end of the 1993/94 season. Incidentally, Lars Ricken was in the squad as a player 31 years ago. \nBoris Rupert<\/i><\/p>\n","exportedType":"text/html"},"id":"editable-a681d4a835","prio":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"prio","title":"Prio (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"headline":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"headline","title":"Headline","multiValue":false,"value":"Niklas Süle describes BVB fans as a \u201ccompetitive advantage\u201d","exportedType":"text/plain"},"matchId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"matchId","title":"match id","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"data-layer":"{\"editable-a681d4a835\":{\"@type\":\"/apps/bvbweb/components/newssliderelements/editable\",\"linkUrl\":\"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/5/19/Niklas-Suele-describes-BVB-fans-as-a-competitive-advantage.html\"}}","author":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"author","title":"Author","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"teaserType":"relatedContent","match":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"content-fragment","name":"match","title":"Related Match","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"alt":"25M-Jubel-BVB.jpg","externalId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"externalId","title":"External ID (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":"1739382841","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayOnHome":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"displayOnHome","title":"Display in news wall on homepage","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"url":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"url","title":"Vanity URL (LEAVE EMPTY FOR AUTOMATIC VANITY URL. 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{"subCategory":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"subCategory","title":"Departments","multiValue":true,"value":"Post-Match Report","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayTag":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"displayTag","title":"Display Department","multiValue":true,"value":[""],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"metadescription":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"metadescription","title":"Meta Description","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"linkTarget":"_self","link":"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/5/17/Ricken-One-of-the-greatest-coaching-achievements-in-BVBs-history.html","stageImages":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"stageImages","title":"Image (Stage Image)","multiValue":true,"value":["/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/28M-Ricken.jpg"],"exportedType":"text/plain"},"experience":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"experience","title":"Experience Fragment","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"appExport":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"appExport","title":"App Export (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"showDate":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"calendar","name":"showDate","title":"Show Date and Time (CET)","multiValue":false,"value":"17.05.25 17:11 Z","exportedType":"calendar"},"teaserText":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"teaserText","html":"Directly after the final whistle in the Bundesliga match against Holstein Kiel, Lars Ricken was interviewed on Sky and praised coach Niko Kovac in particular. \n<\/b><\/p>\n","title":"Teaser Text","multiValue":false,"value":"Directly after the final whistle in the Bundesliga match against Holstein Kiel, Lars Ricken was interviewed on Sky and praised coach Niko Kovac in particular.","exportedType":"text/html"},"scheduledPush":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"scheduledPush","title":"Scheduled Push Notification?","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"disableAdsOnNewsPage":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"disableAdsOnNewsPage","title":"Disable Ads on News Page","multiValue":false,"value":false,"exportedType":"boolean"},"text":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"string","name":"text","html":"How do you feel shortly after the match? \n <\/b>Totally relieved. We're celebrating here right now as if we've won a title, even though we've ultimately only achieved our minimum objective. But I think that you can see that we're extremely happy. Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we'd be bidding farewell to our fans like this?<\/p>\nWas there a moment when you started to believe that something was still possible and that Champions League qualification could still be achieved? \n <\/b>It was the match against Barcelona. A great game. That was when the final piece fell into place for the team: It would be very cool if we could play in the Champions League again next year.<\/i><\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/27-Ricken3.jpg\" data-assetref=\"27-Ricken3-1747504266134\"><\/p>\nWhat are we experiencing in the stands right now? Relief or euphoria? \n <\/b>If that isn't euphoria we're hearing now, then what is? We were 11th several months ago. I have been at BVB for a very long time, and all the other coaches will hopefully forgive me for saying this, but I think what Niko has achieved here is one of the greatest coaching achievements in BVB's history.<\/p>\nHow has he managed to bring consistency into such a temperamental team?<\/b> \nI think the team have also taken responsibility. You could see that following the release of Nuri Sahin. It cannot always only be the coach. There was a high degree of focus. Niko spoke to them in extremely strong terms at the beginning. At the moment when the self-confidence was there, he then applied pressure and made demands of them. That's why it was also so important for me to sign him. Because he possesess a wealth of experience, as a player and from his spells as a coach. And you always take something away from that. It is of course amazing that we as Borussia Dortmund are now benefiting from that.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/27-Ricken2.jpg\" data-assetref=\"27-Ricken2-1747504277332\"><\/p>\nWhat went through your head after the final whistle?<\/b> \nIt is my first year, it has been a rollercoaster ride. In the end, we were the hunter \u2013 but in the end, the hunter always wins. There were a lot of decisions that I had to make. We played against Mainz two years ago. That was a different story on an emotional level, of course. It was about winning the Bundesliga. But the financial difference between fourth and fifth place is of course very different compared to whether you finish first or second. In that respect, it is of course a weight off our shoulders.<\/p>\nWhat does reaching the Champions League mean in terms of planning? Can you keep hold of the likes of Guirassy on the one hand and make some new signings on the other too?<\/b> \nThe players have shown in their last matches that they want to play for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League next year. Our thanks therefore also go to the players, who are now here on the pitch and celebrating the fact that they have made this possible. We're enjoying it here and now, then we have a few days off and then it's off to the Club World Cup and after that we'll think about it. \n <\/b>The conversation between Patrick Wasserziehr and Lars Ricken was recorded by Boris Rupert.<\/i><\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/27-Ricken.jpg\" data-assetref=\"27-Ricken-1747504290035\"><\/p>\n","title":"Text","multiValue":false,"value":"How do you feel shortly after the match? \n <\/b>Totally relieved. We're celebrating here right now as if we've won a title, even though we've ultimately only achieved our minimum objective. But I think that you can see that we're extremely happy. Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we'd be bidding farewell to our fans like this?<\/p>\nWas there a moment when you started to believe that something was still possible and that Champions League qualification could still be achieved? \n <\/b>It was the match against Barcelona. A great game. That was when the final piece fell into place for the team: It would be very cool if we could play in the Champions League again next year.<\/i><\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/27-Ricken3.jpg\" data-assetref=\"27-Ricken3-1747504266134\"><\/p>\nWhat are we experiencing in the stands right now? Relief or euphoria? \n <\/b>If that isn't euphoria we're hearing now, then what is? We were 11th several months ago. I have been at BVB for a very long time, and all the other coaches will hopefully forgive me for saying this, but I think what Niko has achieved here is one of the greatest coaching achievements in BVB's history.<\/p>\nHow has he managed to bring consistency into such a temperamental team?<\/b> \nI think the team have also taken responsibility. You could see that following the release of Nuri Sahin. It cannot always only be the coach. There was a high degree of focus. Niko spoke to them in extremely strong terms at the beginning. At the moment when the self-confidence was there, he then applied pressure and made demands of them. That's why it was also so important for me to sign him. Because he possesess a wealth of experience, as a player and from his spells as a coach. And you always take something away from that. It is of course amazing that we as Borussia Dortmund are now benefiting from that.<\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/27-Ricken2.jpg\" data-assetref=\"27-Ricken2-1747504277332\"><\/p>\nWhat went through your head after the final whistle?<\/b> \nIt is my first year, it has been a rollercoaster ride. In the end, we were the hunter \u2013 but in the end, the hunter always wins. There were a lot of decisions that I had to make. We played against Mainz two years ago. That was a different story on an emotional level, of course. It was about winning the Bundesliga. But the financial difference between fourth and fifth place is of course very different compared to whether you finish first or second. In that respect, it is of course a weight off our shoulders.<\/p>\nWhat does reaching the Champions League mean in terms of planning? Can you keep hold of the likes of Guirassy on the one hand and make some new signings on the other too?<\/b> \nThe players have shown in their last matches that they want to play for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League next year. Our thanks therefore also go to the players, who are now here on the pitch and celebrating the fact that they have made this possible. We're enjoying it here and now, then we have a few days off and then it's off to the Club World Cup and after that we'll think about it. \n <\/b>The conversation between Patrick Wasserziehr and Lars Ricken was recorded by Boris Rupert.<\/i><\/p>\n<img src=\"/content/dam/bvbweb/en/news/2025/05/17/bl-interview/27-Ricken.jpg\" data-assetref=\"27-Ricken-1747504290035\"><\/p>\n","exportedType":"text/html"},"id":"editable-5ccac82cf9","prio":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"prio","title":"Prio (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"headline":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"headline","title":"Headline","multiValue":false,"value":"Ricken: \u201cOne of the greatest coaching achievements in BVB's history\u201d","exportedType":"text/plain"},"matchId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"matchId","title":"match id","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"data-layer":"{\"editable-5ccac82cf9\":{\"@type\":\"/apps/bvbweb/components/newssliderelements/editable\",\"linkUrl\":\"https://www.bvb.de/de/en/news/news-overview/news.html/2025/5/17/Ricken-One-of-the-greatest-coaching-achievements-in-BVBs-history.html\"}}","author":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"author","title":"Author","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"teaserType":"relatedContent","match":{"multiLine":true,"dataType":"content-fragment","name":"match","title":"Related Match","multiValue":false,"exportedType":"text/plain"},"alt":"28M-Ricken.jpg","externalId":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"externalId","title":"External ID (Clubplatform)","multiValue":false,"value":"-707573520","exportedType":"text/plain"},"displayOnHome":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"boolean","name":"displayOnHome","title":"Display in news wall on homepage","multiValue":false,"value":true,"exportedType":"boolean"},"url":{"multiLine":false,"dataType":"string","name":"url","title":"Vanity URL (LEAVE EMPTY FOR AUTOMATIC VANITY URL. 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