The boss is leaving after 20 years: Hans-Joachim Watzke will be leaving the Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund as managing director at the end of 2025.
The 64-year-old announced on Monday (January 8, 2024) at the training camp in Marbella (Spain) that he would not extend his expiring contract. BVB confirmed this at the same time via an ad hoc announcement to the stock exchanges.
“Hans-Joachim Watzke (…) has informed the presidential committee of the advisory board of Borussia Dortmund Unternehmensführungs-GmbH, chaired by President Dr. Reinhold Lunow, that he will no longer be extending his managing director employment contract, which currently runs until the end of 2025, and in the autumn will leave the management in 2025”it said.
BVB boss postponed exit due to corona pandemic
Watzke’s contract with BVB was extended in March 2021 until December 2025. At that time, the Dortmund maker postponed his planned exit again because of the corona pandemic and its effects. “I know very well my responsibility towards this club. It is completely impossible for me to leave the ship in the greatest crisis.”he said at the time.
In addition to his BVB job, Watzke is currently also Vice President of the German football-Federal (DFB) and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German Football League (DFL). He also sits on the Executive Committee of the European Football Union (UEFA).
Watzke once started as treasurer at BVB
Watzke initially became treasurer of BVB in 2001, where he has served as managing director since February 2005. He is considered the man who Borussia Dortmund saved from bankruptcy in March 2005 at a creditors’ meeting in Düsseldorf. The Dortmunders gradually reduced their debts in the following years.
At BVB, Watzke experienced, among other things, the successful era under coach Jürgen Klopp with two championship titles in 2011 and 2012, the cup victory in 2012 and the Champions League final in 2013.
At the end of May 2023, Borussia only had to defeat FSV Mainz 05 on the last matchday to finally win the championship trophy again, but failed with a 2-2 draw. Watzke called this “the worst day” of his life.
