Borussia Dortmund made the decision to part ways with coach Nuri Sahin on Wednesday, just one day after the team’s 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League.
This loss marked the fourth consecutive defeat for Dortmund since the start of the new year, positioning the team at 13th in a league comprised of 36 teams. Moreover, their performance has not improved in the Bundesliga as they currently sit at 10th place.
Sporting director Lars Ricken expressed regret about the decision, stating, “We truly appreciate Nuri Sahin and the contributions he made. We envisioned a long-lasting partnership, and until recently, we remained hopeful about reversing our sporting fortunes.”
He continued, “After facing four straight losses and managing only one victory in the last nine matches, combined with our current standing of 10th in the Bundesliga, we regrettably lost our confidence in being able to reach our competitive objectives. This choice is also challenging for me personally, but it was unavoidable following the match against Bologna.”
In the interim, under-19 coach Mike Tullberg will lead Borussia Dortmund in their upcoming Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen on Saturday. The club has yet to announce a permanent replacement for Sahin.
Sahin, who assumed the role of head coach in June, previously served as an assistant to Edin Terzic, who stepped down following Dortmund’s 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Terzic had stated that the club needed to transition into a “new era” without him.
Striker Serhou Guirassy appeared to show support for Sahin after netting the opening goal against Bologna, celebrating enthusiastically. However, Dortmund soon faltered, allowing two goals within two minutes to an Italian side that had never previously secured a victory in Champions League play, despite ultimately being eliminated.
Following a loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, management had voiced their support for Sahin, but Ricken’s tone changed after the match against Bologna. He indicated that while Sahin’s attacking approach was “very brave,” especially with his focus on younger players, the team’s defensive lapses felt inevitable from early on.
Sahin was a beloved figure among Dortmund fans during his playing days, having started with the club as a youth talent in 2001 before transferring to Real Madrid a decade later. He later returned to Dortmund from 2013 to 2018. However, Sahin’s coaching experience was limited to a two-year period at Turkish club Antalyaspor.
In a statement, Sahin expressed disappointment, saying, “Regrettably, we were unable to align our performances with the sporting aspirations of Borussia Dortmund for this season. I extend my best wishes to this remarkable club.”
