Fortuna Düsseldorf CEO Alexander Jobst speaks out on speculation over his future amid sporting struggles | OneFootball

Sportingly, things have been on the decline for Fortuna Düsseldorf since the club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Bundesliga following a brutal playoff penalty shootout defeat to VfL Bochum in the 2023/24 season.

A sixth-place finish last season has been followed by a turbulent 2025/26 campaign, which club CEO Alexander Jobst does not deny has fallen below expectations.

The club responded to disappointing results with several changes: Daniel Thioune (now at Werder Bremen) was replaced by Markus Anfang as head coach in October, while managing director for sport Klaus Allofs was sacked in December and succeeded by former Borussia Dortmund boss Sven Mislintat.

“I had the privilege to work with Klaus Allofs and Daniel Thioune for a very long time at Fortuna Düsseldorf. Nowadays it’s almost seldom that you work more than three years with the same setup and management, which was a key to success for us," Fortuna Düsseldorf CEO Alexander Jobst told Bulinews.com in an exclusive interview, explaining the changes.

“At the same time, and unfortunately that’s how the business is, we weren’t successful with transfers in the summer of 2025. We want to reach the next level and reach the first division. And sportingly, we were missing our objectives during the first months of the season."

One of the big questions is whether Jobst himself could be on the way out of the club. With the 52-year-old’s contract running until 2027, there has been speculation about his future – but he emphasises his full commitment to the task.

“I currently get asked a lot about my future. That’s just how it is in our business. My answer is pretty simple: I have a contract and am not done here. I am not a person who shies away when you encounter a bumpy road. We’ve got work to do and a clear plan. That is what I am here for," Jobst stressed.

Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images

A remarkable appointment

The appointment of Sven Mislintat as managing director for sport was a significant move. Known as “Diamond Eye,” the 53-year-old particularly gained recognition for his talent-spotting work at Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and VfB Stuttgart.

However, Mislintat is also known as a strong personality, who has often been involved in management-level power struggles and controversies – most recently during his second stint at Borussia Dortmund, which ended in February 2025.

Soon after joining Fortuna Düsseldorf, Mislintat dismissed his subordinate, sporting director Christian Weber, before overseeing a busy winter transfer window that saw the club bring in four new players. 

So far, CEO Alexander Jobst has been pleased with the work of the former Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal boss.

“I’m happy that Sven Mislintat has joined Fortuna Düsseldorf. He was very committed to the strategic approach of the club. He said this from the very beginning. We had a good start together, and hopefully we’ll be able to be more stable in the second division soon,” Jobst said.

“Sven had very clear and open-minded answers to everything during our talks. And therefore, we started with a perfect setup working together.”

“Fortuna For All” still lives

Jobst and Fortuna Düsseldorf embarked on a unique path starting in the 2023/24 season, offering fans free entry to a selected number of games under the “Fortuna For All” initiative.

After initially providing free entry to three match, the number has increased by one per season, reaching five in the 2025/26 campaign.

Jobst emphasises that, despite the many changes at the club, the strategy remains on course.

“It always has an impact on a football club when you change key people. That’s why it’s even more important to have a long-term strategy the club can build on. You also have to stay close to your partners, friends, and members, and keep them informed about what’s going on. That’s the kind of relationship we have now," Jobst said. 

“Everyone knows we have a long-term strategy, and we can rely on it through all the turbulence. Nothing is crashing down. The club must be stronger than any individual,” he underlined.

Currently sitting 13th in the 2. Bundesliga, Fortuna Düsseldorf will be hoping to claim three important points when they take on Preußen Münster on Friday evening.