Şahin’s successor sought
BVB receives rejection: top coach not to Dortmund
Updated on January 23, 2025 – 10:35 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Who will be the new coach of Borussia Dortmund? At least one possible candidate is apparently not available.
One day after the separation from Nuri Şahin, the search for a coach at Borussia Dortmund is not going in a clear direction, at least publicly. U19 coach Mike Tullberg has been appointed interim coach, and the Dane will be on the black and yellow bench for BVB’s Bundesliga game against Werder Bremen on Saturday. Beyond that, it is still unclear who will coach the club in the long term.
However, at least one candidate is apparently not available: Roger Schmidt does not want to take up a new job in the current season – and would therefore not be considered as Nuri Şahin’s successor at Borussia Dortmund. After his dismissal from Portuguese record champions Benfica Lisbon last August, it was “clear” to him “that I would use the time, take a break and under no circumstances take over a new club this season,” said Schmidt in the podcast “Playmaker – Football from all sides” by 360Media.
The conversation took place last Monday, a day later BVB lost in the Champions League at FC Bologna (1:2) and then parted ways with Şahin. Even before the dismissal, numerous coaches had been traded for the struggling Bundesliga club, including Schmidt.
“News has to be conveyed every day,” said Schmidt about the speculation: “If any team has problems, then we look at which coaches are available. You can’t prevent that.” He’s happy about the appreciation, but it’s “a very clear, fundamental decision at the moment that I won’t do anything now.”
What will happen next for the former Bayer Leverkusen coach in the summer is also unclear. “It’s a long time until July and I’m just waiting to see what I think is best for the family,” he said. He is generally willing to talk, “I talk to everyone, why shouldn’t I do that.”