Bundesliga
With a lot of passion: Ricken wants to lead BVB into the future
Lars Ricken (r) succeeded Hans-Joachim Watzke as BVB sports director on May 1st. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
The shadow of his predecessor Hans-Joachim Watzke is long. That doesn’t make the job of the new Dortmund sports director Lars Ricken any easier. Right from the start he is under a lot of pressure.
There was no trace of nervousness. As if he had been familiar with his new position for years, mastered it Lars Ricken confidently presented the official introduction as Borussia Dortmund’s new sports director. Although he is starting a new era for the Bundesliga club, the 47-year-old seemed surprisingly relaxed.
During his first public appearance, he dispelled any doubts that the new job in the great shadow of long-time club patron Hans-Joachim Watzke could be more of a burden than a pleasure for him. “I didn’t need a night to sleep on it,” he described his reaction after the club management’s offer, “I represent these colors with everything I have. This is my club, I was born here and have been going to it for 40 years Stadion.”
“Lars from Mars” is now BVB sports director
Ricken fits the club’s slogan “Real Love” like no other. Since moving to BVB in 1990, the professional who was once celebrated as a child prodigy and “Lars from Mars” has not played or worked for any other club. However, this stable smell and his great achievements as a former youth coordinator were not the only reasons why he was chosen. When he presented the responsible committee with his concept with which he wants to lead the club into the future, he made a huge impact. “He rocked the presidential committee,” said club president Reinhold Lunow, commenting on the unanimous vote for Ricken.
But how does Ricken manage to develop his own profile after Watzke’s long term in office? His predecessor in office apparently doesn’t want to stand in the way. Although Watzke will remain chairman of the board until he leaves at the end of 2025, he no longer wants to interfere in sporting matters: “I didn’t do that to continue pulling the strings here. There definitely won’t be a call to tell Lars Please do it this way and that.” So he put Ricken in charge of the so-called “Elephant Round”, in which decisions are made about building a more powerful team for the coming season. But Watzke will work out “the financial framework” when planning the squad.
Memories of the 1997 Champions League title
Ricken feels how demanding his new job can be in the first few days. The fact that the Champions League final against Real Madrid is coming up after just a month on June 1st suits his vita. After all, it was the former offensive all-rounder who secured BVB’s 3-1 win against Juventus Turin in the 1997 premier class final with his goal, which was voted the “goal of the century” by the Dortmund club fans.
In addition, restructuring plans for the squad need to be finalized. Despite all the euphoria about the international successes, major deficiencies were revealed in the everyday business of the Bundesliga. In collaboration with sports director Sebastian Kehl and Sven Mislintat, who was brought back as squad planner, the search for reinforcements is already in full swing. Whether Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) and Ian Maatsen (Chelsea FC), who were on loan in the winter, can be signed permanently is just one of many unanswered questions.
Contract talks with Kehl in the summer
Ricken doesn’t want to rely exclusively on the development of talent when restructuring the squad: “We were always strongest when we had a two-way strategy. Young, hungry players and a framework of players with experience, quality and leadership.” He sees promising prospects: “We are in the final of the Champions League, will play in the premier class next year and will take part in the Club World Cup next summer. The future has already begun.”
There should be no discussions about filling the coaching position. Unlike before the winter break, Edin Terzic is now undisputed within the club due to his successes in Europe. Kehl’s personnel is considered trickier. Discussions about extending the contract, which is dated until 2025, are to be held in the summer. The sports director was considered Watzke’s successor for a long time and just a few weeks ago described it as a “logical step” for him. The fact that Kehl was denied promotion and that a squad planner, Mislintat, was assigned to him was seen as a limited trust in the work of the former BVB professional.
Watzke hopes for harmony: “Everyone has a certain ego. But if we manage it and work together in a spirit of trust, we have a huge chance. With this constellation we are theoretically well positioned, but we have to prove it.”