Ex-BVB coach Tullberg reflects: It was a culture shock | OneFootball

A quarter of a year ago, Mike Tullberg (39) returned to his homeland. In early September 2025, the Dane took over the training management of FC Midtjylland. Now, the long-time BVB coach is drawing his first conclusions.

In the Superliga, the ball is at rest until early February 2026. Behind the surprise league leader Aarhus GF, FCM is in second place in the table, four points behind. "The guys can be incredibly proud of the last four or five months," Tullberg explains on the club's website.

The "Wolves" have an even more impressive record in the Europa League. Out of a possible 18 points, Tullberg's team secured 15 and is on course for the round of 16 as second place. Only AS Roma managed to defeat Midtjylland 2-1. In the national cup, FCM is in the semifinals and will face Aarhus – a club where Tullberg once worked. In the 2017/18 season, Tullberg coached the club's U19 team.

The Dane also made a name for himself as a youth coach at Borussia Dortmund. He served BVB for more than six years. Tullberg managed the second team and the A-juniors. In the 2024/25 season, he made a brief stint with the Bundesliga professionals. After the departure of Nuri Şahin (37), he temporarily took over the professional squad for three matches. When Niko Kovač (54) arrived, the 39-year-old returned to the U19 team.

"Incredibly happy in Dortmund"

The move to his homeland was more challenging for Tullberg than expected. "For me, it was a culture shock in some ways – that's clear," the football coach notes. "I was incredibly happy in Dortmund, where I spent six years," he fondly recalls, "and it was a wonderful place." In Denmark, however, "many things are different." But now he is "very glad that I have settled in here."

Tullberg appreciates the working environment in Midtjylland. "I have joined a club where values play a major role," emphasizes the long-time BVB coach. "It's one thing to talk about them, quite another to live them," he enthuses about the club he has been with for a quarter of a year now.

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