This summer, Borussia Dortmund will have two of their three group stage fixtures at TQL Stadium for the inaugural edition of a reformatted FIFA Club World Cup:
- vs. Mamelodi Sundowns, Jun. 21 @ 12 PM
- vs. Ulsan HD FC, Jun. 25 @ 3 PM
Fans of the Black and Yellow from around the states—and possibly diehards who cross the Atlantic—will swarm into TQL to watch.
CLUB BIO
Location: Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia—the most populous state in Germany
Nickname(s): Die Borussen (The Prussians), The Black and Yellow, BVB
Manager: Niko Kovac—former manager of Bayern Munich
CLUB HISTORY
Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund, shortened to Borussia Dortmund or to their common moniker of BVB, were founded in 1909, in the fashion of many of Europe’s other prestigious clubs: at a pub. Their founders, a group of 18 local footballers, wanted to organize a newfootball club because they were frustrated with their own Catholic-sponsored one.
For the next few decades, they would only compete in regional leagues. Their attempt to pay players professionally ended in near bankruptcy, saved only by a local supporter’s generous funding. During the Third Reich in the 1930s, the president and much of the organization was purged of its anti-Nazi views and was aligned with the fascist government. They were later dissolved due to these associations.
In 1948, they reemerged and would go on to achieve much success in the highest league in their region of North Rhine-Westphalia, achieving three national titles throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Based on their title in 1963, they were one of 16 clubs chosen to inaugurate the newly founded Bundesliga, a first-of-its-kind national league for German football.
In 1965, they would win the DfB Pokal, which is Germany’s all-club cup tournament. That same year, they would even win the Cup Winners’ Cup—a UEFA tournament contested by league winners. But that would be their only taste of success for more than three decades, due to financial trouble and even a stint in the second division. It was in the 1990s that they had their “golden age”, winning the Bundesliga consecutively in 94/95 and 95/96, as well as the Champions League in 96/97.
But, akin to what followed their last success, the next period was fraught with trouble. The early 2000s were spent near the mid-table of the Bundesliga, and on two occasions, they narrowly avoided relegation.
It was their hiring of Jurgen Klopp in 2008 that once again raised their fortunes. His tenure propelled the Black and Yellow back to the heights of European football; they would win the Bundesliga consecutively in 10/11 and 11/12, and were runners-up in the Champions League in 12/13. This success would give them their modern-day identity, even as Klopp departed for his now-famed Liverpool tenure.
CLUB BRANDING
Their name, “Borussia”, is Latin for Prussia, which is a region in Central Europe. It was used because it was the name of a local brewery.
Image courtesy of BVB Fan Shop
The logo is a simplistic yellow circle with “BVB” in large lettering and “09” below it—signifying the club’s founding year of 1909. They have used it in some variation since 1919, besides a brief rebrand from 1976-1978. It is one of the most recognizable logos in global soccer.
Dortmund is known for their striking color scheme of black and yellow. Their kits have often featured energetic designs, a fashion trend that has continued with as Puma has been their supplier since 2012.
MODERN DAY
Dortmund has been one of the top four mainstays in the Bundesliga since Klopp’s tenure. In five of the previous 10 seasons, they finished as runners-up to Bayern. In the 2023/24 season, they had an underdog run as runners-up in the Champions League, losing 2-0.
This success has been, in part, due to their spending habits, as one of the few top-tier European clubs who have “Moneyball” as their strategy. They are low spenders, preferring to discover talent and sell them for a much higher profit.
A few examples of this stand out:
- Ousmane Dembélé to Barcelona for a profit of $111 million
- Jude Bellingham to Madrid for a profit of $92 million
- Jadon Sancho to Manchester United for a profit of $72 million
- Christian Pulisic to Chelsea for a profit of $71 million
- Erling Haaland to Manchester City for a profit of $44 million
They have been known to employ a flashy, attacking style of play. This largely began under Klopp and could also be seen with previous managers such as Marco Rose, Edin Terzic, and Nuri Şahin. This style is a hallmark of the German game itself, which focuses more on pressing, counterattacks, and possession with a purpose.
2024/25 SEASON
It was a troubling start to this campaign for the Black and Yellow; at one point, they were as low as 12th place in the Bundesliga. As a result, they sacked their young, inexperienced manager Nuri Şahin.
They would appoint Niko Kovac as his successor, with the hope that he could get them to a European competition. Under him, their record through 19 matches is 11-3-5.
Kovac’s style of play is eclectic, varying based on where he has been. At previous stops, he has implemented more of a possessional style. At Dortmund, we have seen familiar Borussian elements; he seems to have, thus far, prioritized a strong defense with a vertical-focused attack, which has been the way of BVB for over a decade.
Their final match of the Bundesliga season was a celebrational 3-0 home win over Holstein Kiel that allowed them to finish in 4th place and qualify for 25/26’s Champions League. They spent most of it in their opponent’s half, adding three goals from the likes of Serhou Guirassy, Marcel Sabitzer, and Felix Nmecha.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dortmund boasts a dynamic squad, especially in attack. Here are a few players to watch:
- Gregor Kobel: A Swiss goalkeeper who is one of the best in his position in Germany. His shot stopping has been behind much of the Black and Yellow’s recent success.
- Julian Brandt: Dortmund’s midfield maestro who has made 200+ appearances, putting up 15+ G/As for the last few campaigns.
- Giovanni Reyna: He has been given sparse opportunities at Dortmund over the past few years but is known for having a high IQ and playmaking ability. How will one of the USMNT’s core players fare in his return to the states?
- Jamie Gittens: An English winger prospect who is known for his speed and dribbling. He broke out in 24/25 with 12 goals and five assists.
- Serhou Guirrasy: Dortmund’s big man up top, scoring 34 goals in 44 matches in his debut season—13 of which came in the UCL.
OUTLOOK
Dortmund is almost sure to top a group that includes Fluminense, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ulsan HD FC. They finished 24/25 being unbeaten in nine of their previous 10, looking as though they have gotten used to Niko Kovac’s style.
Fans in black and yellow will certainly outnumber any of their opponent’s in Cincinnati—and in a city with German heritage, they may even have a friendly crowd that cheers them on. In other words, it could feel like home-field advantage.
Still, it is always a possibility that their opponents will scrape some points. Ulsan HD FC, who are not in offseason form, will be more conditioned when they take to the pitch against the German club. Mamelodi Sundowns are not to be underestimated, being finalists in this season’s CAF Champions League.
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