No clear verdict: Kehl's BVB record mostly “ambivalent” | OneFootball

Since last Sunday, Sebastian Kehl is no longer sporting director at Borussia Dortmund, with his successor Nils-Ole Book already installed. In trying to take stock of Kehl’s work, WAZ arrives at an “ambivalent picture.”

Drawing up such an assessment is said to be “controversial and complicated.” The undeniable hype around Book as a savior who will finally bring titles back to BVB creates the “unfair” impression that Sebastian Kehl alone is to blame for their absence in recent years. Yet BVB are currently anything but facing sporting ruin. Moreover, the risk of entrusting Book, now only at his second stop, with the squad development of Borussia Dortmund is by no means small.

At present, the Westphalians are playing their best Bundesliga season in years. At the same time, the early exits in the two other competitions do not speak in Kehl’s favor either—an ambivalence that applies to his entire tenure. That tenure as sporting director began in 2022, when Kehl succeeded Michael Zorc. Kehl devoted himself to his new role “with great dedication.” And under Kehl, the club also came very close to major titles twice: in the 2024 Champions League final and in the 2023 German championship that slipped away on the final matchday at their own stadium.

Photo: IMAGO

“Good to very good hits” among Kehl’s transfers

At the same time, a striker problem that remained unresolved for a long time was also part of Kehl’s tenure. The €30 million signing Sebastien Haller was diagnosed with testicular cancer, while his short-notice replacement Anthony Modeste turned out to be a flop. Youssoufa Moukoko first had his contract extended for a large sum, but then failed to make the hoped-for progress. Niclas Füllkrug performed better, but stayed only one season. Only Serhou Guirassy, brought to BVB two years ago, fulfilled his role as desired.

Niklas Süle must also be viewed as a flop, at least when considering his exorbitant salary of €14 million. He, too, was one of the reasons why BVB’s squad value fell by €113 million in recent years, even though transfer fees in football have generally been rising.

Sebastian Kehl also failed to generate a transfer surplus, and none of his signings turned into that one true difference-maker. That may have been because Kehl, who is said to have been given the internal nickname “Mr. Maybe,” failed to pull off several transfers that would have made a lot of sense, such as Dean Huijsen, Rayan Cherki, or Ethan Nwaneri.

On the other hand, Gregor Kobel, Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha, and Julian Ryerson were said to be “good to very good hits” who will continue to give BVB plenty of quality even after Kehl’s time. But then there were also the many interpersonal frictions involving Kehl, whether with Edin Terzic or Sven Mislintat.

So what remains is the “ambivalent” picture mentioned at the outset that the Kehl era leaves behind. And it naturally remains open whether everything at BVB will now improve under Book.

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