Sebastian Kehl departs from his position as sporting director of Borussia Dortmund.
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl is departing from the club with immediate effect as the organization undergoes a significant restructuring following a season without trophies.
Dortmund announced on Sunday that Kehl and the club had “mutually agreed to end their collaboration” after arriving at an “amicable” resolution with management.
“The summer is the appropriate time for a transition. To enable both parties to prepare, we mutually agreed to an immediate termination of Sebastian’s contract,” managing director Lars Ricken stated.
“Sebastian and I share a long history. We not only played together for Borussia Dortmund, but we also celebrated winning the German championship in 2002. Sebastian has made substantial contributions to our club.”
Kehl, a former team captain who played a key role in Dortmund’s consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, assumed the role of director of licensed players in 2018 before being elevated to sporting director in 2022.
“The exit of Sebastian Kehl undoubtedly signifies a major shift in our sporting leadership,” remarked Carsten Cramer, who succeeded Hans-Joachim Watzke as CEO last October.
“To implement the necessary changes for the upcoming season and to provide Sebastian with time to contemplate the next steps in his professional journey, this separation is a logical course of action at this moment.”
Kehl, who joined Dortmund from Freiburg in January 2002, expressed that it “has been a part of my life for half my life, and I have an extremely strong connection to this great club … Dortmund, the remarkable stadium, and the SΓΌdtribΓΌne [south stand] will always occupy a special place in my heart. It has been an honor.”
