Ole Book, Sebastian Kehl’s successor, has officially been introduced at Borussia Dortmund. Lars Ricken delivered a direct message regarding his role and the club’s expectations.
At his presentation on Wednesday, the new Sporting Director, Ole Book, refrained from discussing titles for his new club. He acknowledged the longing for success, stating, «I can understand this yearning, and of course, I would be happy about it too. However, I believe it would be unwise to trumpet ambitious goals right now.»
The 40-year-old noted the presence of «a club that has somewhat pulled away» in the Bundesliga, implicitly referring to FC Bayern. Book, who signed a three-year contract, affirmed his commitment to «give my best to be as successful as possible.» He added, «Everyone is allowed to dream, but we are still quite a distance away from those dreams.»
A lifelong BVB fan, Book previously served as the Sporting Director for second-division side SV Elversberg. He is expected to inject fresh energy and innovative ideas into his «heartfelt club.» Carsten Cramer, spokesman for the management board, remarked that while the club stands «on a good foundation,» it occasionally needs «renovation.»
Ricken’s Firm Stance: «We Will Not Play with an U21 Team»
Dortmund aims to leverage Book’s renowned «pearl diving» capabilities, though the Bundesliga runner-up has no intention of completely overhauling its existing philosophy. Lars Ricken, the Managing Director for Sport, made it clear: «We will not be playing with an U21 team in the future. We cannot just say ‘let youth experiment’ and then end up seventh, celebrating. We absolutely need a balanced mix.»
Book, a former midfielder who played up to the second division, was instrumental in SV Elversberg’s ascent from the fourth tier to the brink of the Bundesliga since 2017. Under his guidance, players like current national forward Nick Woltemade (now at Newcastle United) and Fisnik Asllani (TSG Hoffenheim) developed and attracted attention from higher-tier clubs. Notably, he scouted Younes Ebnoutalib from the sixth division and sold him for eight million euros to Eintracht Frankfurt a year later.
Book’s Goal: Finding New «Pearls» for BVB
Book articulated a distinct vision for the future of football at Dortmund. He stated, «Naturally, I will strongly want to bring in my ideas and impulses. Ultimately, it’s about the right fit. The new direction will certainly be characterized by a certain attractiveness and an offensive style.»
He dismissed concerns about his previous experience primarily involving talent discovery for smaller clubs. Book explained, «Fundamentally, I believe that good footballers are good footballers across all leagues. We will strive to find ‘pearls’ that will enhance Borussia Dortmund. I have different opportunities here regarding scouting and analysis – and I will utilize them. The most crucial aspect, however, is the team’s success, which must be viewed in the short, medium, and long term.»