Optimism is once again bubbling through the corridors of Borussia Dortmund as the club embarks on a fresh campaign, not merely to rebuild but to recapture a spirit that seemed to have slipped away. Head coach Niko Kovač, speaking from the team’s training ground, summed up the club’s new direction succinctly: “Overall, we are shaping a solid squad. Four players have departed, we have brought in some promising talent alongside an experienced addition, and we have retained the core – the goalkeeper, the central defender, the midfield anchor.
Now we are trying to recreate the Dortmund of yesteryear.” This vision translates into a desire for players who can electrify the famed Yellow Wall with the kind of exhilarating, high‑tempo football that defined the club during the Jurgen Klopp era – a brand of play built on aggressive counter‑pressing rather than cautious possession, a style that feels as much about passion as it is about tactics. In recent seasons Dortmund drifted from that identity, leaning heavily on older signings in a bid to safeguard a Champions League berth.
The approach was pragmatic, perhaps even cautious, but it ran counter to the club’s DNA of daring, attacking football. The new recruitment strategy aims to correct that course. Kovač highlighted the arrival of 27‑year‑old Dutch midfielder Joey Veerman from PSV Eindhoven as the seasoned figure meant to provide balance.
Yet the buzz among supporters centers on the acquisition of two Greek wingers: the eye‑catching Giannis Konstantelias and the 18‑year‑old prodigy Konstantin Karetsas. Their introduction has already sparked excitement, especially after Konstantelias burst onto the scene in the Franz‑Beckenbauer Supercup, sprinting down the flank in the second half and helping Dortmund claw back from a two‑goal deficit against Bayern Munich.
Norwegian international Julian Ryerson, speaking after the match, reflected on the fresh faces: “It looks positive. We had good players last season, but I think these new guys can take us to another level. I feel we’re on the right path.” The task ahead is far from simple.
The departures of Karim Adeyemi and Julian Brandt – two of Dortmund’s most dynamic attackers – left a noticeable void. Kovač admitted, “We need to replace those goals, that’s clear. When you bring in new players, there’s always uncertainty about how they’ll adapt.” Yet that very uncertainty is part of the allure.
Under the guidance of new sporting director Ole Böhr, the club is willing to gamble on raw potential, especially given the high expectations placed on the Greek duo. Whether Kovač can coax the best out of these youngsters remains a key question. He is a coach with a proven track record, known for demanding hard work over flashier inspiration. His own football philosophy, when asked, boils down to one phrase: “Successful football.” He has lifted the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt and secured a domestic double with Bayern Munich, but critics sometimes label his style as pragmatic rather than visionary.
Kovač’s recent tactical tweaks – such as experimenting with inverted wing‑backs – have not attracted the same analytical spotlight as the innovations of Bayern’s Vincent Kompany, but they illustrate his willingness to adapt. “If someone likes my style, that’s up to them,” he said.
“For me, success is the goal. As a coach you must assess the players you have, the situation you’re in, and constantly adjust.” When Kovač took over Dortmund in late January 2025, the club was languishing in the lower half of the Bundesliga, its identity fragmented and European qualification looking distant.
Chief executive Carsten Cramer still recalls the turnaround with gratitude: “When we hired him a year and a half ago, we were in a region we never should have been. He guided us back to the Champions League.” Cramer added that Kovač’s commitment to the black‑and‑yellow colours seemed deeper than his previous stints at Bayern or Wolfsburg, asserting, “I am 100 percent sure he is the right man at the right moment.” Kovač’s impact was swift.
He noted that the initial plan of a back four proved ineffective after a few games, prompting a shift to a back five. Beyond formation changes, he emphasized the importance of physical conditioning: “When players lack fitness, every decision becomes a calculation – should I run back, forward, defend, or attack?
With better fitness, you act instinctively.” This focus on athleticism helped Dortmund climb to fourth place that season and set the foundation for a second‑place finish the following year. The gap to Bayern Munich narrowed from 25 points in his first season to 16 points in the next, suggesting progress but also highlighting the distance still to be covered for a genuine title challenge. Kovač acknowledges that closing the gap requires multiple factors aligning, including Bayern not performing at their peak – a reality he admits openly.
Recent disappointments, such as squandering a title chance on the final day of the 2023 season and watching Bayer Leverkusen halt Bayern’s dominance in 2024, have left a lingering frustration among Dortmund fans. Yet the blend of Kovač’s disciplined approach with the high ceiling of the new talent offers a renewed sense of possibility.
When asked whether he prefers to speak first or let results speak, Kovač smiles and replies, “I don’t like to talk before I work. The opposite works better for me.” This modest confidence, coupled with a clear plan to blend experience, fitness, and youthful flair, suggests that Borussia Dortmund may once again become a force capable of challenging for the top honours in German football.