In the fall of this year, Dr. Reinhard Rauball returned as long-time club president of Borussia Dortmund. Since 2004 he had led BVB out of the impending insolvency back to the top of German club football and was one of the most important architects for the black and yellow team’s big title wins in the 2010s. In his farewell interview, Rauball, who was appointed BVB honorary president, looked back on the most important stages of his tenure.
After the lawyer had already accepted the presidency of Borussia Dortmund between 1979 and 1982 and 1984 to 1986, he jumped in again during the club’s biggest economic crisis in 2004/2005 and is now considered one of the club’s saviors during this time.
Less than seven years later, BVB sensationally celebrated the German championship under head coach Jürgen Klopp in the 2010/2011 season. Like Rauball himself club media of BVB emphasized, one of the greatest moments ever in his official career.
Rauball handed over the official business to his successor Lunow
“That was incredible satisfaction for me personally and it did me good,” said the now 78-year-old about winning the first of two Bundesliga titles in the 2010s.
At that time Dr. Reinhard Rauball, in his function as chairman of the German Football League (DFL), was even the one who handed the championship trophy directly to BVB captains Roman Weidenfeller (2011) and Sebastian Kehl (2012).
To this day, these two championships with the black and yellow teams are fondly remembered. “I’ll say it quite frankly: I also took it as a bit of a reward. As justice for what you otherwise had to endure in these other difficult times. […] I enjoyed it with the players, with Jürgen Klopp, with my colleagues on the board,” said Rauball, who handed over the fortunes of the traditional Dortmund club to his successor Reinhold Lunow this year.