“Should have run differently”
Mats Hummels calculates with BVB
05/22/2025 – 1:28 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
Shortly before his career end, ZDF publishes a documentary about Mats Hummels. In it, he accounts for BVB, among other things.
The farewell to Mats Hummels near Borussia Dortmund was not only a cut in terms of sport – human also remains a bitter aftertaste for the former international. A year after the end of his time at BVB, the 36-year-old looks back on the processes at that time.
“It should have been different than for me. Actually, it is more like it is told in a personal conversation. I think I wanted to pay the interview home and put it on the press before it was publicly announced,” said Hummels on ZDF.
In the spring of 2024, the central defender had given a sensational interview in the “Sport Bild” shortly before the Champions League final. In it he criticized the then BVB coach Edin Terzić in an indirect form. After the lost final against Real Madrid, it quickly became clear: there was no longer a future in Dortmund for Hummels.
Hummels emphasizes that he would have liked to stay. “I would have loved to stay in Dortmund, under certain conditions. That was no longer the big secret at some point. I always had the hope that it would happen.” With a certain prerequisite, he means a separation from coach Terzić, which finally also followed.
After the end of his time at BVB, Hummels also thought about a career end. Ultimately, however, he decided on another season – in Italy, at AS Rome. He was accompanied by moderator Tommi Schmitt, who portrayed the 2014 world champion for the documentary “Hummels-La Finale”.
His son Ludwig played an important role in his decision. Hummels said he asked him if he should stop. “He said that I should play for another year. If he had said I wanted you to stop, I would have stopped,” said Hummels.
In Rome, however, Hummels experienced a turbulent season, was initially not used by coach Ivan Jurić and only made his debut on the ninth day. Jurić was fired last November. “If Jurić had not been released, I would probably have gone here the next week. I would rather play badly than not at all,” Hummels reveals. “It was really bad to be pushed into the insignificance of Jurić, that pulled me down. I would have taken away, otherwise I will explode at some point,” continued Hummels.
Even before his career ended, Hummel spoke in the documentary about a potential return to BVB. “I would need something for which I burn so sick that I am ready to make these victims again, not to see my son so much,” says Hummels about another continuation of his career. “The only thing I would do for, in my emotional world, is BVB. I think that will not happen.”
When asked by Dortmund, “I would at least brood,” continued Hummels. “When BVB player ended my career, that would be another thing in my head. I can also say honestly: I was looking for the conversation, last week. I don’t think that will happen.” In fact, it didn’t happen that way. After the season in Rome, he finally draws a line under his career.