Last Klassiker: BVB chief Watzke reflects on rivalry with Bayern | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund travels to FC Bayern – for Hans-Joachim Watzke, it will be his last Klassiker as CEO. The BVB boss reflects on old rivalries, newfound respect, and his future at the club.

A special chapter of Hans-Joachim Watzke’s long BVB career is about to begin: The Bundesliga clash on Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.) at FC Bayern will be his last Klassiker as CEO of Borussia Dortmund. After nearly two decades at the helm of the club, the 66-year-old will step down from his position in November – and is likely to continue as the new club president.

In an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten, Watzke looked back on the evolution of the relationship between Dortmund and Munich: “In the past, there were also some poison arrows flying back and forth. We didn’t give each other an inch.” Today, the tone is much more respectful. “The respect for one another was always there. Over the years, we’ve worked hard for that. I’m proud of it.”

The farewell will certainly be an emotional one for the BVB boss. “It’s a special match for me, I won’t deny it. And I would prefer not to lose it,” Watzke said about his last Klassiker as CEO.

On the sporting side, another tough away game awaits Dortmund. FC Bayern is currently in top form, and Watzke is well aware of the challenge: “Bayern are brimming with confidence. But we’re also in good shape. My anticipation is huge.”

Last Match Against Bayern: BVB Boss Watzke Faces Emotional Klassiker

Under coach Niko Kovac, BVB has shown stable performances so far this season and remains unbeaten, although with two draws they are slightly behind the record champions. Dortmund managed to take points in Munich twice recently – including a 2-0 victory in March 2024.

Watzke also senses that BVB is once again being taken seriously. “You can feel that they take us seriously,” he said, referring to “some banter” between the national players of both clubs during the last international break.

After his departure from management on November 23, marketing chief Carsten Cramer is set to take over the role of CEO. Sporting leadership has already been in the hands of club icon Lars Ricken since May 2024. For Hans-Joachim Watzke, an era comes to an end – but his influence at BVB is likely to remain.

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