Boardroom shake-up looms at BVB | OneFootball

The man who once saved Borussia Dortmund from insolvency could completely withdraw from the club in just a few years.

According to a report by “Bild,” BVB president Hans-Joachim Watzke is apparently considering stepping down from his role at Borussia Dortmund altogether in the near future. Specifically, he is said to be planning to relinquish the presidency in 2029. Two possible future roles are being discussed: either as the club’s honorary president or simply as one of many special fans.

Such a move would mark the end of an era that could hardly have been more important for BVB. Hans-Joachim Watzke was already an avid Borussia Dortmund supporter as a child, and in November 2001, BV Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund elected him as treasurer. On February 11, 2005, he then took over the management of the spun-off corporation, Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA. It was precisely during this phase that the club was on the brink of insolvency — and Hans-Joachim Watzke played a crucial role in preventing the looming collapse.

What followed ranks among the most successful chapters in the club’s history. Under his leadership, BVB won the German championship twice, in 2011 and 2012. The club also lifted the DFB-Pokal three times, in 2012, 2017, and 2021. Dortmund also competed at the very top internationally: in 2013 and 2024, the team even reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious club competition in the world. In the current 2025/26 season, BVB is taking part in this competition for the 20th time overall and for the tenth consecutive time — a level of consistency surpassed worldwide only by Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.

BVB boss Watzke could step down

Hans-Joachim Watzke already gave up his operational executive role in November 2025 at his own request. He was then elected by the club as president of Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund. In addition to his involvement with BVB, he also holds other influential positions in German and international football: since December 2021, he has been president of the Bundesliga as well as first vice president of the German Football Association, and at the European level he also serves as a vice president of UEFA.

Photo: IMAGO

If the “Bild” report proves accurate, Hans-Joachim Watzke’s withdrawal in 2029 would definitively mark the end of his active involvement with BVB — after a tenure that shaped the club like few others.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.