Borussia Dortmund has parted ways with head coach Nuri Sahin following their recent Champions League defeat to Bologna, marking another setback in the club's turbulent season.
The German powerhouse has been struggling since the winter break, losing four consecutive matches across all competitions. Tuesday's 2-1 defeat against Bologna was particularly concerning, representing their third loss in this season's Champions League campaign - a stark contrast to their finalist position last year.
The situation has become increasingly dire for Dortmund, who now find themselves in a precarious position. To advance to the Champions League last 16, they must defeat Shakhtar Donetsk in their final group stage match and rely on favorable results elsewhere. Their domestic performance has been equally disappointing, with three consecutive Bundesliga defeats to start 2025 leaving them in 10th place, seven points adrift of the top four.
Sahin, who had previously played for Dortmund in two separate spells, acknowledged the team's shortcomings in a statement: "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 36-year-old coach was appointed in June 2024 following Edin Terzic's departure after the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid. Sahin's appointment was intended to bring a fresh perspective, with the club hoping he would transform Dortmund's style into one of dominance and sophisticated possession football. However, his relative inexperience as a head coach - having only previously managed Antalyaspor in Turkey - became evident as the season progressed.
Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken expressed his regret over the decision: "We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much. We hoped for a long-term collaboration and until the end we had hoped we could achieve a sporting turnaround together. This decision hurts me personally, but it was unavoidable after the game in Bologna."
The team's recent performances have revealed significant tactical and structural issues. Despite maintaining high possession statistics in league games, they struggled to create meaningful opportunities against defensive opponents. The post-winter break period has been particularly problematic, with the team taking excessive risks in attack while leaving themselves vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Club advisor Matthias Sammer's post-Bologna analysis highlighted the team's mental and physical weaknesses. With Sahin's departure, Dortmund will now be seeking their sixth manager since 2018, though club officials acknowledge that the underlying issues extend beyond the coaching position. Apart from English winger Jamie Gittens and midfielder Felix Nmecha, the squad has largely underperformed this season, suggesting deeper structural problems within the team.
