Optimism has returned to Borussia Dortmund as the club embarks on a new campaign, not merely rebuilding but attempting to reclaim a lost identity. Head coach Niko Kovač summed up the atmosphere at the training ground: “Overall, we are shaping a good team. Four players have left, we have brought in some promising talents and one seasoned professional.
We kept the core – the goalkeeper, the central defender, the midfielder – and now we are trying to recreate the BVB of the past.” The vision is clear: bring back the kind of players who can electrify the famous Yellow Wall, those who embody the high‑tempo, rock‑and‑roll style that defined Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp. The emphasis shifts back to aggressive counter‑pressing rather than cautious possession, injecting more emotion and intensity into the game. In recent seasons Dortmund drifted away from that principle, opting for older signings in a bid to safeguard Champions League qualification. The strategy felt safe, but it strayed from the club’s DNA.
Kovač’s latest recruitment aims to reverse that trend. The experienced addition he mentioned is 27‑year‑old Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman from PSV Eindhoven, a player who can provide stability while the younger pieces develop.
The headline grabs, however, belong to the two Greek wingers: the eye‑catching Giannis Konstantelias and the 18‑year‑old prodigy Konstantin Karetsas. Their arrival has ignited conversation among supporters. In the Franz‑Beckenbauer Supercup, Konstantelias entered at halftime and immediately put pressure on Bayern Munich’s back line, helping Dortmund claw back from a two‑goal deficit and reviving the belief that the team can once again challenge the German giants. Veteran Norwegian defender Julian Ryerson praised the newcomers, saying, “It looks positive.
We had good players last season, but I think these additions will take us to a new level. I feel we are on the right path.” The task ahead is far from easy.
The departures of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt—players who embodied the club’s attacking flair—left a noticeable void. Kovač admitted, “We need to replace those goals, that’s clear.
When you bring in new players you never know if it will work, but that uncertainty is part of the excitement.” Under the guidance of the new sporting director Ole Book, the club is daring to dream again. Book acknowledges the high expectations placed on the two Greek forwards, noting their “big talent” and the belief that they can become key offensive weapons. Whether Kovač can coax the best out of this youthful group is a question many are asking. He is a proven winner, but his reputation leans more toward hard work than inspirational flair.
When asked to define his football philosophy, Kovač answered simply: “Successful football.” He points to his cup triumph with Eintracht Frankfurt and the double with Bayern Munich as evidence of his pragmatic approach. Critics sometimes label his style as limited compared to more flamboyant peers. He has experimented with inverting wing‑backs, but his tactical tweaks rarely dominate headlines the way Vincent Kompany’s do at Bayern. Kovač responds, “If people like my style, that’s fine.
For me, success matters. As a coach you must assess the players you have, the situation you’re in, and adapt constantly.” 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 CEO Carsten Cramer reflected on that period: “When we hired him a year and a half ago, we were in a place we never should have been. He turned things around and got us back into the Champions League.” Cramer added that Kovač’s commitment and affinity for the black‑and‑yellow colors made him the right man at the right moment. The coach’s impact was immediate. He switched a back‑four formation to a back‑five after a few games, recognizing that the original system was not working.
He also emphasized physical conditioning, stating that improved fitness simplifies decision‑making on the pitch: “If you’re fit, you don’t have to calculate whether to run back, forward, defend or attack—you just do it.” Those adjustments helped Dortmund finish fourth that season, providing a platform that was built upon to secure a second‑place finish the following year. The points gap to Bayern shrank from 25 to 16, showing measurable progress, though a title challenge still feels distant. Kovač admits that closing the gap requires many factors aligning, including Bayern not performing at their usual level. Recent frustrations have lingered: missed chances cost the club a title on the final day of 2023, and Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern’s dominance in 2024.
Yet the blend of Kovač’s disciplined methodology with the high ceiling of the new talent rekindles hope among the Dortmund faithful. When asked about his approach, Kovač smiled, “I don’t like to talk first and then work.
I prefer the opposite.” That modest attitude, combined with a clear plan, suggests Dortmund may once again become a force that thrills its fans and challenges the established order in German football.