Optimism has returned to Borussia Dortmund as the club embarks on a fresh campaign, aiming not merely to rebuild but to recapture a lost spark. Head coach Niko Kovač summed up the mood at the training ground: “Overall, we are shaping a good team.” He went on to explain that after the departure of four players, the squad has welcomed a mix of promising youngsters and a seasoned professional, preserving the core of the side – the goalkeeper, central defenders and key midfielders – while trying to recreate the essence of the BVB of earlier years.
The new signings are meant to bring back the kind of talent that can electrify the famous Yellow Wall, the supporters who love Dortmund’s trademark high‑tempo, rock‑and‑roll football that was popularised under Jürgen Klopp. That style favours aggressive counter‑pressing and instinctive play over cautious possession, delivering a product with more emotion and less rigidity.
In recent seasons Dortmund drifted away from this identity. The club leaned toward older, more conservative acquisitions, seemingly prioritising safety and a guaranteed Champions League berth over the adventurous brand of football that defines the team. It felt like a departure from the club’s DNA.
Kovač’s experienced addition is 27‑year‑old Joey Veerman, a midfielder arriving from PSV Eindhoven. Yet it is the arrival of two Greek wingers – the eye‑catching Giannis Konstantelias and the 18‑year‑old prospect Konstantin Karetsas – that has set fans talking.
Their impact was evident in the Franz‑Beckenbauer Supercup when Konstantelias entered at halftime and immediately pressed Bayern Munich’s back line, helping Dortmund claw back from a two‑goal deficit. Norwegian international Julian Ryerson, speaking after the match, praised the new arrivals: “It looks positive.
We had good players last year, but I think these newcomers can take us to a new level. I feel we are on the right path.” The road ahead will not be easy. The departures of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt – two players who embodied the club’s black‑and‑yellow spirit – leave a noticeable void. Kovač admitted, “We need to replace those goals; it’s clear.
When you bring in new players, there’s always a risk they might not fit.” Yet that uncertainty is part of the excitement. Under the guidance of new sporting director Ole Buch, the club is daring to dream, banking on the raw potential of its youthful signings.
Kovač’s reputation is that of a pragmatic winner, someone who values hard work over flamboyant inspiration. Whether he can mould the Greek wingers into consistent threats remains to be seen.
When asked about his football philosophy, Kovač simply answered, “Successful football.” He has a respectable résumé – a German Cup triumph with Eintracht Frankfurt and a league‑and‑cup double with Bayern Munich – but his tactical approach is often described as utilitarian compared with the more celebrated innovators of the game. He has experimented with inverting wing‑backs and other tweaks, but his adjustments tend to be practical rather than headline‑grabbing. “If someone likes my style, that’s up to them,” he said. “For me, success is what matters.
As a coach you must assess the players you have, the situation you’re in, and constantly adapt.” Kovač arrived at Dortmund in late January 2025, when the club was languishing in the lower half of the Bundesliga and had lost its identity. European qualification seemed a distant dream. Dortmund’s chief executive, Carsten Cramer, still speaks gratefully of that turnaround: “When we hired him a year and a half ago, we were in a place we never should have been.
He guided us back to the Champions League.” Cramer added, “He loves this club. The black and yellow suit him far better than the red and white of Bayern or the green and white of Wolfsburg. I am convinced he is the right man at the right time.” Kovač’s early impact was immediate.
He switched the team from a back‑four to a back‑five after a few games, recognising that the original formation wasn’t working. He also focused on improving the squad’s physical condition, arguing that better fitness simplifies decision‑making on the pitch: “When you’re fit you don’t have to calculate every movement – you just act.” This emphasis on conditioning helped Dortmund climb to fourth place that season and eventually finish second the following year.
The points gap to Bayern Munich narrowed from 25 points in his first season to 16 in the next, signalling progress but still leaving a sizeable distance to a title challenge. Kovač acknowledges that closing that gap requires many factors aligning, including Bayern not performing at their usual high level. Recent frustrations have stemmed from missed chances – Dortmund squandered a title opportunity on the final day of 2023 and watched Bayer Leverkusen end Bayern’s dominance in 2024. Nevertheless, there is renewed hope that Kovač’s disciplined approach combined with the high ceiling of the new talent can reignite Dortmund’s championship aspirations.
When asked whether the team can achieve that dream, Kovač smiled and said, “I don’t like to talk before I work. I think it’s better to let the results speak.” The club’s fans, the Yellow Wall, await the unfolding story with anticipation, hoping that the blend of experienced guidance and youthful exuberance will once again make Borussia Dortmund a force that thrills both locally and across Europe.