Without any prior announcement — not even rumors in the media in recent weeks — Borussia Dortmund decided to terminate the contract of their sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
The former German international had spent just under four years in the role, but it’s worth noting that he leaves the Westfalen club after nearly a quarter of a century, including his time as a player. There were reports that Dortmund might try to poach Markus Krosche from Eintracht Frankfurt — one of the most sought-after executives in Europe — but less than 24 hours later, the club officially announced that Kehl will be replaced by the relatively unknown Nils Ole Book (40) from SV Elversberg.
In a very open conversation, Sebastian Kehl, Carsten Cramer and I came to the joint conclusion that this coming summer is the right time for changes. To give both sides time to prepare, we reached a verbal agreement to end Sebastian’s employment” said CEO Lars Ricken in a statement.
Soon, he published another one, this time about the new executive. “Ole has always been our top pick — everything else is speculation. I’ve followed his outstanding work at Elversberg for a long time and I’m convinced he’s the right choice for us, both professionally and personally. He’s someone who combines what we strive for — results and development, especially when it comes to young players”.
Nils Ole Book achieved remarkable things at the small club from Saarland, where he began as a scout in 2017 after a modest playing career. When he arrived, Elversberg were in the fourth tier of German football; now, he leaves them sitting in second place in the 2.
When Book first walked into the club, it had never earned money from player sales nor paid transfer fees. With just six full-time employees and an average attendance of 1,500, it operated almost at an amateur level. By 2023, Elversberg had reached the second division for the first time in its history.
The town, with just over 13,000 inhabitants, transformed in six years into one of the most organized clubs in Germany’s top two divisions. Staff numbers grew to 25, average attendance approached 10,000, and around 400 local businesses became sponsors.
Throughout that process, Book was one of the driving forces. Without paying transfer fees, he built a squad that reached the third division in 2021 and the second division a year later. When many expected a regression, Book made another leap — again without spending money.
As a 40-year-old without a major playing career, Book may now be able to focus purely on his job — exactly what Dortmund needs. His first priority: convince Nico Schlotterbeck to extend his contract, then rebuild the defense around him. Replacements will be needed for Niklas Sule and likely Ramy Bensebaini; replacing Julian Brandt won’t be easy, while Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi could be sold for big money. Now it’s time to see what he can do — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a “small man” on a big stage.
Related News: De Zerbi and Tottenham, one condition: staying in the Premier League