German league - Lars is capable of leading BVB, according to many.
There's no doubt that Lars Ricken's debut as the new head of sport for Borussia Dortmund won't be a casual affair. As he takes over from longtime club head Hans-Joachim Watzke on May 1st, Dortmund will be in high spirits. With the team placed fifth in the Bundesliga, they'll be competing in the Champions League semi-final for the first time in 11 years, and are aiming to advance closer to the coveted Wembley final by winning against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg. Ricken's entry into the role, which has generated a lot of attention, aligns with the demanding nature of the profession. The 1997 Champions League hero, who assisted in BVB's greatest triumph to date with a goal in the final to beat Juventus 3-1, is keeping mum about any public statements. Instead, his appointment from youth coordinator to head of sport is being celebrated by others. BVB coach Edin Terzic, who previously worked under Ricken in coaching U-teams, raved about their relationship, saying, "I've had a long history with Lars and Sven, and I think highly of both of them."
Terzic's former teammate Karl-Heinz Riedle, who scored two goals in the unforgettable 1997 final, believes Ricken is more than capable of taking on the role. "Many were surprised by this promotion, as he had never held such a position before. But it's definitely worth a try," Riedle said on ran.de. "It's certainly not an easy task to replace Aki Watzke. But I believe Lars can do it."
Ricken fits the club motto "Real love" perfectly. His career at BVB started in 1990 when he joined from Eintracht Dortmund, and he's been playing and working for the club ever since. Watzke, who's due to retire from management in the fall of 2025, appreciates Ricken's diplomatic skills and strong decision-making abilities.
The near future will require these qualities, as the team is in dire need of an overhaul following their 1:4 loss in Leipzig in the last Bundesliga fixture. Mislintat's appointment as a technical director responsible for squad planning hints that BVB might prioritize discovering and nurturing young talent once again. Terzic's position as coach seems secure, as does Matthias Sammer's role as the club's advisor. Ricken and Sammer have a history of trust and collaboration, which they developed during away games while sharing lodgings at BVB.
There are more complications on the horizon for the new BVB boss. A scheduled discussion in the summer about extending Sebastian Kehl's contract, which runs until 2025, will add to his workload. Previously considered to be Watzke's successor, Kehl described extending his contract as a "logical step" just a few weeks ago. The appointment of Mislintat and the denial of promotion for Kehl suggests a lack of confidence in his work.
Kehl isn't thinking of leaving either. Despite his disappointment, he expressed a desire to stay. "Lars is a true Borussian. We've known each other for a long time, played soccer together, and worked together very trusting in the past few years," he said in an interview with Sky before the Leipzig game, "I hope this will be a lot of fun moving forward." Reports suggest that Kehl isn't considering a change of clubs. "At the moment, that's not something that matters to me," said the 44-year-old, who took on the role as sporting director at BVB in July 2022. "I'm really enjoying my time in this job, and we currently have goals that are far too beautiful."
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Source: www.stern.de
