Nuri Sahin faces the downfall after the Champions League setback

Borussia Dortmund have decided to part ways with head coach Nuri Sahin following the team’s disappointing 2-1 loss to Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday. The club expressed that they had "lost faith" in Sahin’s ability to guide the team, marking a swift end to his brief tenure. Sahin, who had previously served as assistant to former manager Edin Terzic, was promoted to head coach in the summer after Dortmund's surprise run to the Champions League final last season. Under his guidance, Dortmund had reached the final but fell short, losing to Real Madrid in a hard-fought match.

However, the 36-year-old’s appointment has not had the desired impact. Dortmund have now suffered four consecutive defeats in all competitions, with their most recent loss in Bologna further deepening the club's struggles. In the Bundesliga, Dortmund find themselves languishing in 10th place, 20 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich, which has added to the pressure on Sahin. Despite his previous success as a player and assistant coach, Sahin's tenure as head coach has been marred by inconsistency, both in domestic and European competitions. The decision to part ways with him comes as a result of the club’s poor form, and Borussia Dortmund will now look to find a replacement who can restore the team's competitive edge.

"We have unfortunately lost faith that we will achieve our sporting goals. We value Nuri Sahin and his work very much, we hoped for a long collaboration and until the end we had hope that we could achieve a sporting turnaround together," sporting CEO Lars Ricken said on Wednesday. 

The sacking of Nuri Sahin adds to the ongoing instability surrounding Borussia Dortmund's managerial positions in recent years. Since Jurgen Klopp’s departure in 2015, the club has cycled through eight different head coaches, with Edin Terzic having two separate stints at the helm. Only Lucien Favre has managed to remain in charge for more than two years, highlighting the difficulty the club has had in finding stability. Dortmund, currently languishing in mid-table in the Bundesliga, are now set to host Werder Bremen on Saturday in a crucial league clash. The club has announced that information regarding a new head coach will be shared in due course.

Several names are already being linked to the vacant position, with German media reporting that former Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag could be a candidate. Ten Hag, who has been spotted attending Dortmund matches recently, is thought to be under consideration, although no official talks have been confirmed. Another potential candidate is Roger Schmidt, the former Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen coach, who has experience in managing high-pressure situations. The upcoming decision will be crucial for Dortmund as they look to return to their competitive best in both the Bundesliga and Europe.

Nuri Sahin's appointment as Borussia Dortmund head coach continued the club's trend of promoting former players to leadership roles. Before Sahin, Edin Terzic, who grew up in the area and previously served as a scout and junior coach, also took the reins. Other club figures, like Michael Ricken and sporting director Sebastian Kehl, had long careers at Dortmund as well.

Sahin, a product of Dortmund's youth system, played 274 matches for the club and was part of the 2011 Bundesliga-winning side. After stints at Real Madrid and Liverpool, he moved to Turkish club Antalyaspor, where he later transitioned to coaching. Sahin led Antalyaspor to solid league finishes before returning to Dortmund as assistant manager in January 2023. Under Sahin, Dortmund struggled, particularly away from home, with just four wins from 15 matches. They were also knocked out of the German Cup by Wolfsburg. However, they still have hopes of progressing in the Champions League, despite the defeat by Bologna.