Optimism is returning to Borussia Dortmund as the club embarks on a new campaign, eager to reclaim a style of play that once defined it. Head coach Niko Kovač, speaking from the team’s training complex, summed up the club’s direction in a single sentence: “Overall, we are mixing a good team.” He explained that after the departure of four players, the squad has been reinforced with fresh talent and a seasoned professional, while retaining the core pillars – the goalkeeper, central defenders, and a key midfielder – that provide stability. In Kovač’s words, the aim is to recreate the Borussia Dortmund of yesteryear. The vision is clear: bring in players who can electrify the famed Yellow Wall, athletes capable of delivering the high‑tempo, counter‑pressing football that became a hallmark during the Jurgen Klopp era.
That brand of play is less about patient possession and more about intensity, spontaneity, and raw emotion. In recent seasons Dortmund drifted away from this identity, leaning on older signings and a more cautious approach designed to safeguard Champions League qualification.
While pragmatic, that strategy felt at odds with the club’s DNA. One of the experienced arrivals Kovač mentioned is 27‑year‑old Joey Veerman, who joins from PSV Eindhoven as a midfield anchor. However, the most talked‑about acquisitions are the two Greek wingers: the eye‑catching Giannis Konstantelias and the 18‑year‑old prodigy Konstantin Karetsas.
Their arrival sparked excitement during the Franz‑Beckenbauer Supercup, when Konstantelias entered at halftime and immediately pressured Bayern Munich’s back line, helping Dortmund claw back from a two‑goal deficit. Norwegian international Julian Ryerson, who has been with the club for a season, expressed optimism about his new teammates: “It looks positive, yeah. We also had some good players last year but I hope it takes us to a new level, of course.
I hope and I think that we are on a good path.” His confidence mirrors the broader sentiment among the squad and supporters – a belief that the fresh faces can lift the team to a higher plane. The rebuilding task is not without challenges.
The departures of prolific forwards Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt have left a noticeable void in the attacking third. Kovač acknowledged the pressure: “We need to replace these goals, it is clear. Of course, when you buy new players, you never know if it is going to work or not.” Yet that uncertainty is part of the allure; Dortmund is daring to gamble on potential, a gamble backed by the club’s new sporting director, Ole Buch, who has set lofty expectations for the Greek duo’s talent.
Whether Kovač can extract the best from these youngsters remains an open question. He is a proven winner, having lifted the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt and secured a league‑cup double with Bayern Munich, but his reputation leans toward meticulous preparation rather than flamboyant inspiration. When asked to define his football philosophy, Kovač simply replied, “Successful football.” He admits his style may appear limited compared with more celebrated contemporaries, yet he stresses adaptability: “If someone likes my style, that is up to you.
For me, we are successful. As a coach, you need to see what kind of players you have, what situation you have, and you must always adapt.” Kovač’s adaptability was put to the test when he arrived at Dortmund in late January 2025. The club was languishing in the lower half of the Bundesliga table, its identity fragmented, and European qualification looking bleak. In hindsight, club chief executive Carsten Cramer praised the turnaround: “Imagine what happened when we hired him one‑and‑a‑half years ago.
We were in regions we never should be and he brought us to the Champions League.” Cramer added that Kovač’s commitment to the black‑and‑yellow colors seemed genuine, noting that the coach appeared more at home at Dortmund than at his former clubs. The tactical overhaul was swift. Initially, Dortmund deployed a back‑four, but after a few matches the formation proved ineffective, prompting Kovač to switch to a back‑five.
He also emphasized the importance of physical conditioning, arguing that a fitter player makes decisions instinctively rather than through mental calculation. “Without those physical abilities, you are calculating. Should I run backwards? Should I run forward?
Should I defend? Should I attack?
If you are fitter, you just do it,” he explained. The results of those changes were immediate. Dortmund finished fourth that season, securing a platform that propelled them to a second‑place finish the following year. The gap to Bayern Munich shrank from 25 points in Kovač’s first full season to 16 points in his second, suggesting a narrowing of the traditional hierarchy, though a genuine title challenge still feels distant.
Kovač is realistic about the obstacles: “To close this gap, a lot must happen. It is also important that Bayern Munich is not playing top.” He referenced past disappointments – a missed title on the final day in 2023 and Bayer Leverkusen ending Bayern’s dominance in 2024 – to underline the fine margins involved. Looking ahead, the blend of Kovač’s disciplined approach with the high ceiling of the new talent offers a tantalising prospect. The Greek wingers bring speed, creativity, and a hunger to prove themselves on one of Europe’s biggest stages, while seasoned figures like Veerman provide balance and experience.
If the squad can internalise Kovač’s tactical flexibility and maintain the physical standards he demands, Dortmund could once again become a force that challenges for the Bundesliga crown and makes deep runs in Europe. Kovač himself remains cautious about making promises: “I do not like to speak first and then work. I think the opposite way is better.” His smile suggests confidence, but also an awareness that words must be backed by performance on the pitch. For Dortmund fans, the message is clear – the club is rebuilding with intention, blending tradition with innovation, and hoping that the next chapter will see the Yellow Wall roar louder than ever before.