Borussia Dortmund head coach Nuri Sahin sacked after defeat to Bologna

Borussia Dortmund have sacked Turkish football manager Nuri Sahin after team managed to win only one win in nine games

Borussia Dortmund have parted ways with head coach Nuri Sahin following a 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League, marking the team’s fourth successive loss since returning from the winter break.

The defeat left Dortmund in a precarious position, sitting tenth in the Bundesliga, 20 points behind leaders Bayern Munich after 18 games. The club’s poor form has extended to domestic competitions, with Dortmund also exiting the DFB Pokal in the second round after a defeat to Wolfsburg in October.

The decision to part ways with Sahin was communicated to the team at their hotel in Italy on Tuesday night. Sahin and his staff departed separately, with the squad due to return to Germany on Wednesday. An emergency meeting was held the following morning to confirm the decision, although no successor has been appointed yet.

Sahin, 36, took over as head coach in June 2024, replacing Edin Terzic, who left the club by mutual consent following Dortmund’s loss to Real Madrid in the 2024 Champions League final. Having previously served as Terzic’s assistant since December 2023, Sahin returned to Dortmund after managing Turkish side Antalyaspor for 26 months. However, his tenure at Dortmund has been marred by disappointing results, leading to his departure.

Several potential candidates are already in the frame to replace Sahin, with notable names including Erik ten Hag, Roger Schmidt, and Sebastian Hoeneß.

Ten Hag, currently at Manchester United, is said to be keen on the job but has made it clear that he would only consider a long-term contract. The Dutchman is not interested in stepping into a "firefighter" role to temporarily stabilise the club.

Schmidt, most recently at Benfica, could potentially take the reins on a short-term, six-month contract. However, it is believed that he would not be the ideal fit for the club in the long run.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Hoeneß of VfB Stuttgart is a candidate that Dortmund are particularly interested in. However, Hoeneß would not be available until the summer, as he remains under contract with Stuttgart. Dortmund could look to buy out his contract, provided Hoeneß also wishes to make the move.

As Dortmund continue their search for a new head coach, the pressure will be on to find the right candidate to turn around the club’s fortunes, both in the Bundesliga and in European competition.