Borussia Dortmund have parted ways with head coach Nuri Sahin after their 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday. The decision, described by sporting CEO Lars Ricken as a “loss of faith,” comes during a troubling period for the club, which has endured four consecutive losses across all competitions.
Currently sitting in 10th place in the Bundesliga, Dortmund trail league leaders Bayern Munich by a staggering 20 points. The team’s performance this season has fallen well below expectations, especially after their impressive run to the Champions League final last year, where they were defeated by Real Madrid.
Ricken addressed the decision in a statement, saying, “We have unfortunately lost faith that we will achieve our sporting goals. 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.”
The club announced that U19 coach Mike Tullberg would step in as interim manager, starting with Saturday’s home game against Werder Bremen. Meanwhile, speculation is mounting about Sahin’s permanent replacement. Former Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag and ex-Bayer Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt are reportedly among the leading candidates.
Sahin, 36, was promoted to head coach last summer after serving as assistant to Edin Terzic during Dortmund’s surprise run to last season’s Champions League final. A former Dortmund player himself, Sahin made 274 appearances for the club and was part of the squad that clinched the Bundesliga title in 2011.
Reflecting on his departure, Sahin expressed disappointment, stating, “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.”
Under Sahin’s leadership this season, Dortmund have struggled significantly, particularly in away matches, where they’ve lost nine of 15 games. Despite their poor league form and early exit from the German Cup, the team remains hopeful of reaching the Champions League knockout stages.
The dismissal marks another chapter in Dortmund’s unstable managerial history since the departure of Jurgen Klopp in 2015. The club has now cycled through eight head coaches in less than a decade, with only Lucien Favre lasting more than two years.
