“Back home at my favourite club” – Ole Book joins BVB | OneFootball

On Monday, it was announced that Ole Book would become Borussia Dortmund’s new sporting director. He started work at BVB today, Wednesday. “The first three hours were certainly intense. We first had the opportunity to welcome the staff and coaching team. A few players were also there. I’ve also already had the chance to meet many members of the administrative staff. It was great fun and has left me wanting more.” At midday, the official presentation to the press took place in the press conference room at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK.

“Many more meetings will follow. The most important thing right now is getting to know all the people, the processes and the procedures. It’s a wonderful task that I’m looking forward to. Then we’ll get straight into the sporting side of things,” said Book. “I’m delighted to be able to get started with these positive first impressions at the club close to my heart, right here in my home region.”

Although Book moved to Dortmund from Elversberg in Saarland at short notice, the relocation was the least of his concerns as the new sporting director is originally from Beckum. His family remained there even during his time in Elversberg, so the journey to his new workplace isn’t too long: “It took about half an hour this morning, which was fine.”

Here's what Ole Book said during his presentation

Ole Book on his connection to BVB:“That connection goes back as far as I can remember. My first defining moment was narrowly missing out on the league title on the final day of the 1992 season. A little later, I went to the stadium for the first time with my father. I was given a shirt every two or three years. There were also lots of posters in my room.”

… the release clause for BVB in his contract with Elversberg: “It was a professional goal to work successfully at Borussia Dortmund and to get stuck in here with all the staff. And yes, it was certainly a sign of self-confidence.”

… the approach from BVB: “I’ve been a fan all my life, my father is a fan, as are my son and most of the people I know. So, of course, it’s special. On the other hand, I’ve been doing this job for over eight years now. Lars, Carsten and I quickly realised that we’re on the same wavelength. What Borussia Dortmund want in terms of team spirit and working together aligns with what I have to offer.”

… finding gems from the second division and the Bundesliga:“Good footballers are good footballers regardless of the league they play in. Of course, the standard is different, but I know the Bundesliga and Borussia Dortmund well. I’ve also been following international football very closely over the last few years. At the end of the day, it always comes down to what fits together, what fits with the team, and what fits with how the manager wants to play. We want to work closely together to find gems that will help Borussia Dortmund. The approach is very similar. I now have other options in scouting and analysis. It’s a bit more of a team effort.”

… his approach: “Fundamentally, I have always been and remain committed to bold, attacking football. At the end of the day, however, we want to analyse the squad as a team and go through in detail what we are capable of, what we have to offer, and how we intend to be successful. The most important thing, and what takes precedence above all else, is the success of the team and of Borussia Dortmund. This means success in the short, medium and long term. I feel responsible for all these perspectives and I want to do justice to all of them. That is why we should not be expected to look only for the youngest players in the world, although that is also an element that is important for further development. We want to find players who fit into our system, who fit in with our coaching team and who fit in with the values that the club embodies. The right fit is the decisive factor for all players. Then, we will work together to see what this new path might look like.”

… the settling-in period:“It should definitely be very quick. I feel absolutely ready to hit the ground running. I’m aware that, in terms of public perception, there’s quite a gap between Elversberg and Dortmund. You can’t do more than acknowledge that beforehand; the rest I’ll have to experience for myself. I have an experienced team around me who can support me and help me.”

… his way of working:“First and foremost, it’s about analysing the squad, and everyone has a part to play in that. It involves close collaboration with the coaching staff, the analysts, the scouting team and all my colleagues. And, of course, I’ll be bringing my own ideas and input to the table. We will use this analysis to plan a strong squad down to the last detail. We want to send a team onto the pitch where every cog operates cohesively with the next. That requires very clear and detailed work. Diligence is the foundation of scouting, and scouting is the foundation of squad planning, and squad planning is the foundation of Borussia Dortmund’s success. That’s why we should start with diligence.”

“We have big plans”

Carsten Cramer, spokesperson for the board of directors, and sporting director Lars Ricken also used the press conference to thank Sebastian Kehl once again. “On behalf of Borussia Dortmund, I would like to say a very heartfelt thank you to Sebastian Kehl, not only for his work as sporting director but also for everything he achieved on the pitch in the club shirt. There is hardly any other player or person who has committed themselves to Borussia Dortmund as much as Sebastian Kehl,” said Cramer.

Carsten Cramer on the reorganisation: “In recent weeks and months, we have shown that we want to summon a great deal of courage, that we are keen to make Borussia Dortmund even better. The decision to make a change in this role – not just to press the reset button, but to really start an update – shows that we want to send a signal that we at Borussia Dortmund have big plans. I feel that, in Ole, we have brought someone on board who embodies the new BVB. Ole is the missing piece of the puzzle.”

… the future strategy: “I’m delighted that, following Niko Kovac, we once again have someone from outside the club who brings fresh impetus and new ideas. I’m convinced that his eye for talent, his ability to build a squad and his personality as a team player mean that we have found the best possible sporting director for Borussia Dortmund. We won’t be playing with an Under-21 team in future. We have great players in our youth ranks, but they will need the necessary time to reach their highest level. That’s why it’s important to have a two-pronged strategy with experienced players whom the young players can look up to and develop alongside. That has always been part of Borussia Dortmund’s DNA.”Christina Reinke