Hans-Joachim Watzke will leave BVB’s management in autumn 2025. Will Borussia Dortmund’s sports director Sebastian Kehl then move into the top position? The ex-captain answered evasively.
Hans-Joachim Watzke “will think about how he hands over this club,” said BVB sports director Sebastian Kehl in a talk format on the “Ruhr Nachrichten”. The 43-year-old emphasized that we will see in due course who will be in charge of the Sauerlander’s fortunes.
Recently there has been speculation that Kehl himself is a candidate for the Watzke inheritance. In response to a corresponding question, he replied: “I will not type up an application letter for the sports director.” Nevertheless, Kehl let it be known: “We will sit down together calmly and have discussions. It is clear that I know the club well.”
First you have to agree with Watzke himself what his expectations are for the job. There is still enough time until the announced retirement, Kehl added.
Will Sebastian Kehl extend his contract with BVB?
It is clear that the official’s announced departure means a major turning point for the club: “It’s a very, very unfortunate thing because Aki has had a big impact on the club over the last 20 years. It’s good that he’s staying on board for another year and a half . He led him out of a difficult time. Aki is Borussia Dortmund. His identification with the club is so intense, it won’t end overnight. He has also taken on a big role in German football. Something will break.”
As sporting director, Sebastian Kehl still has a contract with the Black and Yellows until the summer of 2025. “There will certainly be a time to have discussions. I’m relatively relaxed and I’m trying to be an added value for the club. I want to make the club fit for the future and continue the good preparatory work from recent years,” said the successor to BVB icon Michael Zorc.
Kehl came to Borussia Dortmund as a player in 2002, where he ended his career in 2015. Three years later, he took over the position of head of the professional team, and in July 2022 he was promoted to sports director.