Dortmund Appoints Elversberg’s Ole Book as New Sporting Director | Bundesliga News

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Borussia Dortmund has appointed Ole Book as its new sporting director, a surprising move that sees the executive step up from German second-division side Elversberg. The appointment comes following the sudden departure of Sebastian Kehl, who left the club with immediate effect on Sunday, March 23, 2026, after a tenure marked by both success and increasing internal friction.

Book, who has overseen a remarkable rise for Elversberg from the regional fourth tier to its current second-division standing, will be tasked with reshaping Dortmund’s sporting strategy. Elversberg is currently second in the 2. Bundesliga table.

The move follows a period of uncertainty for Dortmund, which finished the season nine points behind Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich. Kehl’s exit was described as “mutually agreed” by the club, but reports indicate disagreements with sporting director Lars Ricken played a significant role. According to a report in Bild newspaper, “irreconcilable differences” existed within BVB’s senior management, stemming from Kehl’s disappointment at not being appointed sporting director in 2022 when Hans-Joachim Watzke stepped down, a role ultimately given to Ricken.

Kehl’s time as sporting director, beginning in 2022, included leading Dortmund to the 2024 UEFA Champions League final. Though, the team ultimately fell short, losing to Atalanta after relinquishing a 2-0 lead. As a player, Kehl spent 13 years with Borussia Dortmund, winning three German league titles (2002, 2011, and 2012) and the DFB-Pokal in 2012, captaining a successful side under Jürgen Klopp.

Carsten Cramer, spokesperson for the BVB board, stated the separation was a “logical step” to facilitate changes for the new season and allow Kehl to pursue future opportunities. Kehl has been linked with the sporting director position at Hamburger SV.

Book’s success at Elversberg has been built on identifying and developing talent on a limited budget. A standout example is forward Younes Ebnoutalib, who arrived from a fourth-tier club in early 2025 and quickly became a key player, scoring 12 goals in 17 second-division games before being sold to Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2026.

Dortmund also announced that midfielder Felix Nmecha will be sidelined for “several weeks” with a knee injury, ruling him out of Germany’s upcoming international friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana ahead of the World Cup.