Borussia Dortmund sack coach Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel has left his position as coach of Borussia Dortmund, the club have announced. The 43-year-old, who led Dortmund to victory in the DFB-Pokal final three days ago, has parted company with the club after two seasons in charge.
Dortmund said in a statement that the decision to “go their separate ways with immediate effect” was made at a meeting on Tuesday between the chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke, the sporting director, Michael Zorc, Tuchel and his agent.
Dortmund defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 to win the German Cup on Saturday but despite the victory Tuchel’s time at the club has been brought to a close after reports of a strained relationship with the board.
Tuchel confirmed on Twitter this morning that he had left the club. He said: “I am grateful for two beautiful, eventful and exciting years. Too bad that it does not go [on]. Thanks to the fans, to the team, to the staff and to all who supported us. Wishes the @BVB all the best. TT.”
The Dortmund statement read: “We’d like to thank Thomas Tuchel and his coaching team for their successful work at BVB, which culminated in the DFB-Pokal win over Eintracht Frankfurt in Berlin on Saturday. We would like to wish Thomas all the best in his career.”
Dortmund said they would not comment on the reasons behind the split from Tuchel, who still had a year left on his contract. They said it was the “result of a long process”.
The club added: “BVB attaches great importance to the fact that the cause of the separation had absolutely nothing to do with a disagreement between the two parties. The wellbeing of Borussia Dortmund, to which they were much more than only sporting success, will always be more important than individuals and possible differences between them.”
Relations between Tuchel and the club’s hierarchy, in particular Watzke, have appeared openly strained since the bomb attack on the Dortmund coach before their Champions League game with Monaco last month.
The match in Dortmund was postponed and played the following day, with Tuchel making no secret of his anger at the decision to play the game so soon after the incident, in which his defender Marc Bartra was injured. An angry Tuchel said at the time the decision, about which he said his team was not once consulted, left “a very bad feeling”.
Uefa bore the brunt of Tuchel’s fury, but it said Dortmund had agreed to the rearrangement of the game. The implication was Dortmund’s bosses had not run the decision by the team.
Tuchel was appointed as Jürgen Klopp’s successor at Signal Iduna Park for the start of the 2015-16 season. He led the club to second place in the Bundesliga last term and third this campaign, although they have not been able to provide a real challenge to a dominant Bayern Munich.
The 2-1 cup final win on Saturday was Tuchel’s first, and only, trophy. The loss of key players has not helped, though, with Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all departing last summer
The highly rated manager, who earlier this season was suggested as a possible successor to Arsène Wenger at Arsenal should the Frenchman leave, will not be short of offers. Pep Guardiola is reported to be an admirer
