Borussia Dortmund has parted ways with head coach Nuri Şahin following a string of poor results in both domestic and European competitions.
The decision comes as the club finds itself eliminated from the German Cup, struggling in the Bundesliga, and reeling from a 2-1 loss to Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday. Despite taking an early lead, Dortmund conceded twice in two minutes, marking their fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions.
Şahin, a former Dortmund player, was appointed as head coach in June to replace Edin Terzić, with hopes of ushering in a new era for the club. However, his tenure has been cut short after a disappointing start to the season. Dortmund currently sits 10th in the Bundesliga table, with only one win in their last nine matches, making Champions League qualification for next season increasingly unlikely.
Acknowledging his departure, Şahin expressed his disappointment, stating:
“Unfortunately, we have not managed to live up to Borussia Dortmund’s sporting ambitions this season. I wish this special club all the best.”
Sporting director Lars Ricken shared his thoughts on the decision, emphasizing that the club had initially aimed for a long-term partnership with Şahin.
“We value Nuri Şahin and his work very much. We had hoped for a sporting turnaround together, but after four consecutive defeats and our current league position, we lost faith in achieving our goals under the current setup. This decision hurts me personally, but it was unavoidable after the game in Bologna.”
Ricken explained.
Şahin‘s brief tenure offered moments of promise, particularly in the Champions League, where Dortmund showed glimpses of potential. However, the defeat to Bologna appears to have been the tipping point for the club’s management.
The shadow of Şahin’s predecessor, Edin Terzić, loomed large over the season. Terzić led Dortmund on a remarkable run to last season’s Champions League final, where they fell 2-0 to Real Madrid. However, his domestic record was less convincing, with Dortmund narrowly securing a fifth-place finish to qualify for this season’s Champions League.
