Borussia Dortmund has officially parted ways with Sven Mislintat, the club's Technical Director, just two weeks after the dismissal of head coach Nuri Sahin. The decision, announced on February 7, 2025, has raised eyebrows due to its abruptness and the lack of detailed reasoning provided by the club.
According to reports, Mislintat, who had only just returned to Dortmund last summer, was let go amid growing tensions between him and Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl. The club simply stated they had "immediately relieved Mislintat of his duties," without offering specifics, leaving fans and stakeholders alike speculating about the internal dynamics at play.
These tensions have been brewing for months, with sources indicating frequent disagreements over transfer strategies and player recruitment ideas. The challenges became apparent as Dortmund struggled with injuries and inconsistencies, contributing to their current position of 11th place on the Bundesliga table—a stark deviation from their expectations.
Sporting Director Lars Ricken, who took over the role when Mislintat was brought back, was reportedly supportive of Kehl throughout this turbulent period. It has been stated, "the collaboration was doomed to fail," indicating deep-seated issues within the management structure. The friction was evidenced when plans for potential player signings fell through, largely attributed to the fractured relationship between Kehl and Mislintat.
On the day of Mislintat's release, Ricken had insisted during the presentation of Niko Kovac as the new head coach, "If we need to critically analyze certain areas, we will do so internally and keep it internal." His approach signified readiness to tackle the club's structural issues head-on, underlining the necessity of unity within the leadership.
Hans-Joachim Watzke, the club's CEO, hinted at the nuanced issues among the trio of leaders within the club—Mislintat, Kehl, and Ricken. He stated, "It’s purely about ensuring all three can harmonize, and this area certainly needs improvement." His comments not only recognized the failures before Mislintat's departure but pointed to a broader dysfunction needing resolution.
Mislintat's return to Dortmund was viewed with optimism. Having spent 20 years at the club prior to stints at Arsenal, Stuttgart, and Ajax Amsterdam, he was expected to leverage his depth of knowledge to strengthen the squad. Unfortunately, early hope turned to disappointment as his relationship with Kehl reportedly soured, especially following the departure of Edin Terzic, whom Mislintat had closely worked with. This shift left Mislintat’s strategies and ideas sidelined, particularly evident during the winter transfer window.
Notably, Mislintat’s track record earned him the nickname “Diamantauge” or "diamond eye," reflecting his reputation for identifying top talent. His inability to steer the club through recent transfer challenges raises questions about whether his expertise was utilized effectively—or whether he was undermined by competing interests within the management.
The situation had reached such a brewing point by the time of Mislintat's dismissal and reflected broader symptoms of instability and conflict within Dortmund’s upper management. Fans could not ignore the fact Dortmund was left feeling stagnant, with poor performances magnifying internal strife.
Looking forward, Ricken's decisive action could mark the beginning of efforts to restore balance within the club as it prepares not just for league commitments but also for matches against challenging opponents, like VfB Stuttgart and Sporting Lisbon. Reflecting on the dual front of Bundesliga performance and European competition, many at the club hope to create more harmonious decision-making processes.
Whether Mislintat's dismissal can act as the much-needed catalyst for change is yet to be seen; Dortmund must now navigate its transition more carefully, addressing both current performance issues and the need for clear lines of command between staff. The club remains focused on returning to its competitive roots and hopes to find stability as it aims for improvement on the pitch.
With Mislintat's departure marking the end of another tumultuous chapter at Borussia Dortmund, all eyes now turn to how Ricken and Kehl aim to reshape the club's future and maintain its storied legacy.