Nuri Sahin Fired by Borussia Dortmund following Champions League Disappointment

Borussia Dortmund have decided to part ways with head coach Nuri Sahin following their disappointing 2-1 Champions League defeat against Bologna. The club expressed that they had "lost faith" in Sahin, with the team experiencing four consecutive defeats in all competitions. In the Bundesliga, Dortmund currently sits in 10th place, a staggering 20 points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. Sahin, who served as an assistant to former coach Edin Terzic during last season's surprising run to the Champions League final, was promoted to head coach during the summer. Despite their impressive journey to the final where they faced Real Madrid, the club's recent poor results prompted the decision to make a coaching change.

"We have unfortunately lost faith that we will achieve our sporting goals," sporting CEO Lars Ricken said on Wednesday. 

Ricken added the decision "hurts... but was unavoidable after the game in Bologna.

"We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, we hoped for a long collaboration and until the end we had hope that we could achieve a sporting turnaround together."

The sacking continues a tumultuous time for recent Dortmund managers. 

Since Jurgen Klopp's departure in 2015, Dortmund have had eight head coaches, including Terzic's two stints at the club. Only one, Lucien Favre, has stayed for longer than two years. 

Dortmund, who host Werder Bremen in the league on Saturday, said "information will be provided in due course" as to a successor.

Advertisement

German media reported candidates included former Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag, who has been seen attending Dortmund games recently, or one-time Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen handler Roger Schmidt. 

Terzic, who remains jobless since leaving the Dortmund post in the close season, is reportedly not a candidate for the position. 

A disappointed Sahin said he "unfortunately was not able to live up to Dortmund's sporting ambitions at this point in time. 

"I wish this special club all the best."

Advertisement

Sahin's hiring maintained the club's recent strategy of hiring former players in leadership roles. 

Terzic grew up in the area and was a Dortmund scout and junior coach before taking the top job. 

Ricken and sporting director Sebastian Kehl also had long careers as Dortmund players.

Sahin came through Dortmund's junior ranks and played 274 games for the club -- he was a member of the side that won the 2011 Bundesliga title -- either side of stints at Real Madrid and Liverpool. 

The Germany-born former Turkish international's first head coach position was at Turkish side Antalyaspor, where he finished his playing career. 

Sahin took Antalyaspor to seventh and 13th-placed finishes in the league, before he departed to become assistant manager at Dortmund in January 2023.

After Tuesday's loss, Sahin told reporters "if I am the problem, or if a change of coach solves the issues, then that's no problem at all."

Under Sahin this season, Dortmund have found it particularly tough away from their 82,000-capacity Westfalenstadion fortress, having lost nine and won just four of their 15 matches. 

In addition to their poor league form, Sahin's side were eliminated in the last 32 of the German Cup by Wolfsburg.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

They do though still entertain hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the Champions League, despite the defeat by Bologna, as they lie 13th in the table.

(This story has not been edited by staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)