Dortmund fired coach Sahin to spark a turnaround but its problems run deeper than him

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund hoped that reaching the Champions League final would lay a platform for further success. Instead, it’s gone backward.

Firing coach Nuri Sahin on Wednesday was largely seen as inevitable after one win from the last nine games, but there’s no clear path to a turnaround.

Youth coach Mike Tullberg will take charge against Werder Bremen on Saturday in the Bundesliga while Dortmund searches for Sahin’s replacement. Reports in Germany identified the favorite as ex-Bayern Munich and Monaco coach Niko Kovac but he told Austrian TV on Wednesday, “No one has spoken to me.”

Whoever does take over will inherit an underperforming squad on course for its worst league placing in years.

Here’s a look at what’s gone wrong for one of Germany’s most storied soccer clubs:

Why Sahin was fired

With Dortmund 10th in the Bundesliga, it’s on track to miss out on the Champions League next season for the first time in a decade.

Sahin, in charge since June, had rocky patches early in his tenure but things were going from bad to worse with four straight losses to start 2025.

His fan favorite status as an ex-Dortmund player and close relationships with senior players may have bought him time.

Even before Sahin took charge, Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final arguably masked underlying issues.

Dortmund placed fifth in the Bundesliga last season under Edin Terzic, who resigned at the end of the season, and was arguably fortunate to beat Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals after PSG repeatedly hit the post and crossbar.

An unclear strategy

Last Friday, Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl pledged Sahin his full support. Five days later, Sahin was gone.

The apparent hesitation as Dortmund slid down the table over the last month was a contrast to the ruthlessness shown to former coaches. Lucien Favre was fired in December 2020 when Dortmund was fifth, and Peter Bosz lasted five months in 2017.

The difficulties also come at a time when Dortmund’s long-term strategy is uncertain. Chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke is leaving later this year after 20 years.

Youth pipeline dries up

Dortmund used to develop Europe’s best young players such as Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho. Now it’s fighting to keep up.

Dortmund’s German rivals Bayer Leverkusen and Leipzig are competing for the best youngsters and Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is one of the most in-demand players in world soccer.

The 20-year-old English winger Jamie Gittens is having a strong season with 11 goals from 27 games but Dortmund’s youth teams are no longer packed with first-team-ready talent.

When teens have covered for injured first-team players this season they’ve struggled, and players once considered Dortmund’s future haven’t developed as planned. Injuries have disrupted 22-year-old U.S. attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, while striker Youssoufa Moukoko has scored only twice all season on loan at Nice.

Older signings aren’t a hit

Money isn’t the problem at Dortmund after its lucrative Champions League run last season and the promise of millions more at the Club World Cup in the United States.

The issue has been who to spend it on.

Dortmund has relied heavily on experienced names such as Emre Can, Pascal Gross, Marcel Sabitzer and, until he was injured, Niklas Süle. The squad that reached the Champions League final last season was one of the oldest in the competition, too.

After striker Niclas Füllkrug, signed at 29 and now at West Ham, was a success at Dortmund, the club signed a string of older, late-blooming players based largely on Bundesliga form, with mixed results.

Since the start of last season, Dortmund’s only permanent first-team signing from outside the German league is 33-year-old former Brighton midfielder Gross.

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