Borussia sign a second division sports director

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”.

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And indeed, 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. Bundesliga — a promotion spot. 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. Realizing that free agents were no longer enough at that level, he turned to loans. He brought in largely unknown players, such as Nick Woltemade from Werder Bremen, Paul Wanner from Bayern’s youth team, and Fisnik Asllani from Hoffenheim — now valued at 30 million euros and wanted by top clubs. All of them revived their careers with playing time. Soon, Book earned the nickname “pearl diver” in local media.

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Two years ago came the club’s first major recognition: a million-euro transfer. Jannik Rochelt, signed for free in 2022, was sold to Hannover for 1.5 million euros — enough to cover nearly an entire season’s wages. But his biggest move came that same June. From fifth-tier side Giessen, for 50,000 euros — only the second paid transfer in the club’s history — he signed an unknown 20-year-old forward, Younes Ebnoutalib. The Frankfurt-born striker played just 17 matches, scored 12 goals, and in winter attracted a call from Krosche at Eintracht. The deal was quickly agreed: eight million. That covered Elversberg’s entire annual budget (around 7.4 million) and left enough to sign David Mokwa, whose value has already doubled.

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Meanwhile, Elversberg reached the Bundesliga promotion playoff (losing to 1. FC Heidenheim) and lost long-time coach Horst Steffen, but results didn’t collapse. Book himself had already received offers — including from Borussia Mönchengladbach — but turned them down, surprising many. As it turned out, he made the right choice. Just five months later, Lars Ricken called. This was an offer he couldn’t refuse — not because of money. Book was born in Beckum, just 40 kilometers from Dortmund, and has supported Borussia since childhood, often visiting the Westfalenstadion and the famous Yellow Wall.

“Borussia is one of the biggest clubs in Europe for me. I’m excited to have the opportunity to work here. I will give everything. I want to lead this club toward a bright future” said Book, whose contract runs for three years.

Experts and media in Germany are united in their support. While he may lack a big-name reputation, many believe that could actually help internal dynamics. Reports suggest that one of the key reasons behind Kehl’s departure was poor relations at the top — too many decision-makers pulling in different directions. 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.