In an official statement released on Sunday, Borussia Dortmund confirmed that Sebastian Kehl has ended his role as sports director with immediate effect. The German newspaper Bild describes Kehl's departure as a huge bombshell. According to the club, Borussia Dortmund and Sebastian Kehl agreed to end their collaboration unanimously.
Dortmund's top executive Lars Ricken stated that discussions on Sunday concluded that changes in leadership are needed by summer. The specific reasons for the mutual agreement to part ways have not been disclosed. Sebastian Kehl took over as sports director in 2022.
Before that, he played for Borussia Dortmund for 13 years, totaling 748 games. Borussia Dortmund is having a good Bundesliga season but is nine points behind the clear league leader Bayern Munich. The club is currently eleven points ahead of third place in the Bundesliga.
However, Borussia Dortmund was eliminated in the Champions League playoff and the German Cup round of 16 this season. The club has moved quickly to appoint a successor. Nils-Ole Book is leaving Elversberg to replace Sebastian Kehl as sports director at Borussia Dortmund.
According to other sources, Borussia Dortmund has found a new sports director, and Ole Book is taking over as the new sports director at Borussia Dortmund. Ole Book is 40 years old. He most recently came from Elversberg, which is second in the German second division.
Dortmund's CEO Carsten Cramer is happy about the appointment of Ole Book. The detailed terms of Ole Book's contract with Borussia Dortmund have not been revealed.