Borussia Dortmund have sacked head coach Nuri Sahin following Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League loss at Bologna, citing a “lack of religion” in him.
Dortmund, who have been crushed finalists within the competitors final season, have now suffered 4 consecutive defeats in all competitions. Within the Bundesliga, Dortmund at the moment sit tenth, 20 factors behind leaders Bayern Munich.
German media have reported that potential successors may embrace former Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag, who has been seen attending Dortmund video games not too long ago, or former Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen supervisor Roger Schmidt.
Sahin was assistant to former Dortmund coach Edin Terzic throughout final season’s shock run to the Champions League closing, the place they misplaced to Actual Madrid. The 36-year-old was promoted to move coach in the summertime.
“We now have sadly misplaced religion that we are going to obtain our sporting objectives,” mentioned sporting CEO Lars Ricken on Wednesday.
Ricken added, “The choice hurts… however was unavoidable after the sport in Bologna. We worth Nuri Sahin and his work very a lot, and we hope for an extended collaboration. Till the tip, we had hope that we may obtain a sporting turnaround collectively.”
This dismissal marks one other turbulent chapter for latest Dortmund managers. Since Jurgen Klopp’s departure in 2015, the membership has had eight head coaches, together with two stints by Terzic. Just one, Lucien Favre, has remained for greater than two years.
Afterward Wednesday, Dortmund introduced that U19 coach Mike Tullberg would take over on an interim foundation, beginning with Saturday’s dwelling conflict in opposition to Werder Bremen.
A upset Sahin mentioned, “Sadly, I used to be not in a position to stay as much as Dortmund’s sporting ambitions at this cut-off date. I want this particular membership all the most effective.”
Sahin’s appointment was a part of the membership’s latest technique of hiring former gamers in management roles. Terzic, Ricken, and sporting director Sebastian Kehl all had lengthy careers as Dortmund gamers.
Sahin got here by way of Dortmund’s junior ranks and performed 274 video games for the membership, together with being a part of the facet that gained the 2011 Bundesliga title. His profession additionally included stints at Actual Madrid and Liverpool.
The Germany-born former Turkish worldwide’s first managerial place was at Turkish facet Antalyaspor, the place he completed his enjoying profession.
Sahin led Antalyaspor to seventh and Thirteenth-place finishes within the league earlier than shifting to Dortmund as assistant supervisor in January 2023.
After Tuesday’s loss, Sahin instructed reporters, “If I’m the issue, or if a change of coach solves the problems, then that’s no drawback in any respect.”
Beneath Sahin this season, Dortmund have significantly struggled away from their 82,000-capacity Westfalenstadion fortress, having misplaced 9 and gained simply 4 of their 15 matches. Along with their poor league kind, Sahin’s facet have been eradicated within the final 32 of the German Cup by Wolfsburg.
Nonetheless, they nonetheless entertain hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout phases, regardless of the defeat by Bologna, as they lie Thirteenth in the desk.