Borussia Dortmund has announced the departure of head coach Nuri Sahin following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League, marking the end of his brief tenure that began in June 2024.
The 36-year-old manager's exit comes amid a concerning run of form that has seen the German giants secure just one victory in their last nine matches across all competitions. Despite maintaining a favorable position to advance in the Champions League, Dortmund's domestic performance under Sahin has been particularly troubling.
Lars Ricken, Dortmund's sporting director, expressed the difficult nature of the decision, stating, "We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, we hoped for a long-term collaboration and until the end we had hoped that we could achieve a sporting turnaround together." Ricken acknowledged that four consecutive defeats, combined with the team's current tenth-place position in the Bundesliga table, left the club with no choice but to make a change.
Sahin, who maintained his professionalism throughout, responded to his dismissal by saying, "Unfortunately, we have not managed to live up to Borussia Dortmund's sporting ambitions this season. I wish this special club all the best."
The team's recent struggles have been particularly evident since returning from the German football's winter break, with four successive losses leaving them a substantial 20 points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. Their early exit from the DFB Pokal in October, following a defeat to Wolfsburg, had already cast shadows over Sahin's leadership.
The decision was communicated to the players at their team hotel in Italy on Tuesday night, with Sahin and his staff departing separately. The club formalized the decision during an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning.
As Dortmund looks to the future, speculation has linked former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to the position. However, sources close to the Dutch manager, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, indicate he is not considering an immediate return to football and will evaluate his options in the summer.
In the interim, Mike Tullberg, the club's Under-19s coach since 2019, will take charge of the team for their upcoming match against Werder Bremen. The 39-year-old Dane will aim to stabilize the team during this transitional period.
Sahin's connection with Dortmund runs deep, having served as a player for the club across two spells and working as assistant coach to Edin Terzic since December 2023 before his promotion to head coach. He had previously managed Turkish Super Lig club Antalyaspor for 26 months before returning to Germany, replacing Terzic who departed following the 2024 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
