Borussia Dortmund have terminated the contract of head coach Nuri Sahin following a string of disappointing results. The decision comes after a 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League, which marked their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions. This poor run of form has left the club struggling both domestically and in Europe.
Sahin, who had two spells at the club as a player, was appointed as Dortmund’s head coach in June 2024, replacing Edin Terzic. He previously served as an assistant coach to Terzic, alongside Sven Bender. Despite hopes for a long-term collaboration, the team’s performance did not improve under his leadership.
Dortmund currently sits 10th in the Bundesliga, seven points outside the top four, jeopardizing their chances of Champions League qualification for next season. In the Champions League, they are in 13th position in the league phase and face an uphill battle to reach the last 16, needing a win against Shakhtar Donetsk and other results to go their way. The defeat to Bologna was their third loss in this season’s Champions League.
What he said?
The club’s sporting director, Lars Ricken, acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “We valued 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.” He added, “This decision hurts me personally, but it was unavoidable after the game in Bologna.”
Sahin himself expressed his disappointment, 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 departure comes after just seven months in charge. The club has only managed one win in their last nine games, which ultimately led to the decision. Prior to coaching at Dortmund, Sahin spent more than two years as the manager of the Turkish team Antalyaspor.
The sacking of Sahin has led to speculation about potential replacements, with Erik ten Hag being mentioned as a favorite for the role. Ten Hag was recently dismissed by Manchester United in October. Dortmund’s struggles extend beyond the Bundesliga and Champions League, as they were also eliminated from the DFB-Pokal in the second round after losing to Wolfsburg. The club is currently 20 points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.
Nuri Sahin has a significant history with Borussia Dortmund, having made over 250 appearances for the club across two stints as a player. Despite this, his time as head coach has been cut short due to the team’s poor performance. Dortmund’s management now face the task of finding a suitable replacement to turn their season around.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c07k18e39k1o
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jan/22/borussia-dortmund-sack-nuri-sahin-as-coach
https://talksport.com/football/2816113/erik-ten-hag-next-job-borussia-dortmund-nuri-sahin/
