Borussia Dortmund: The Myth of a Model Club
When you think of Borussia Dortmund, a certain image comes to mind - efficient, daring, strategically sharp. A club that operates like a well-oiled machine in the transfer market, buying low, selling high, and shaping raw talent into Europe's finest. A team with a clear identity, willing to fight Bayern Munich's financial firepower with tactical ingenuity and youthful flair. For many, Dortmund has long stood as the archetype of a well-run club - an example for inefficient, bloated giants across the continent to learn from.
The Legacy That Built the Myth
Once upon a time, it was true. In the '90s and early 2000s, Dortmund were aggressive spenders, reaping domestic success but flying too close to the sun. By 2005, they found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy. What followed was a reset - a forced recalibration under strict budgetary constraints. And that's when the story really began to captivate.In 2008, they appointed a hungry young manager - Jürgen Klopp. The charisma, the vision, the soundbites - it all clicked. His heavy-metal football, known in Germany as gegenpressing, turned a pragmatic rebuild into an exhilarating revolution. Under Klopp, Dortmund didn't just win - they inspired. Two Bundesliga titles, a Champions League final, and a squad built on just over 40 million. They were smart. Bold. Relatable.
As richer clubs inevitably swooped in for stars like Götze, Lewandowski, and Hummels, Dortmund leaned into the role of kingmaker. They embraced being the world's best development platform - scouting gems, giving them a stage, then cashing in. Former CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke practically evangelized the "Dortmund Way," reinforcing the club's new ethos in interview after interview.
But Is That Still Who They Are?
Fast forward to 2024 - and the story no longer holds quite so firm.Let's start with the age profile. In the 2013 Champions League final, seven players in Dortmund's XI were under 25. Just one was over 30. A decade later, in the 2024 final, only three players were under 25 - two of them on loan - and four were 30 or older. That's not a fluke. It's a trend.
From being pioneers in youth development and scouting, Dortmund have drifted. Of their last 20 permanent signings, 12 were over 25. And in the 2024/25 season, just two players under 23 managed more than 10 starts. This isn't the profile of a developmental club anymore - at least not one with a clear youth mandate.
And the buy-low, sell-high brilliance? That edge is dulled. Since 2017/18, only four players have fetched more than 30 million. Compare that to Frankfurt and Leipzig, who have each sold six players above that threshold since 2018. Even Bayer Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso, have built a title-winning side with 19 of their 27 squad players arriving before age 23. Dortmund's supposed niche? It's been taken over by their domestic rivals.
Still Underdogs? Not Really.
Yes, Bayern still loom large - financially and symbolically. But the underdog tag doesn't hold up against Frankfurt, Leverkusen, or Leipzig. In 2025, Dortmund ranked 11th in Deloitte's Money League, above the likes of Atlético Madrid and Inter Milan. Frankfurt were 24th. Leverkusen and Leipzig didn't even make the top 30. The financial gap is real, but Dortmund are now closer to the elite than to the struggling.
So what's left of their identity?
In today's footballing landscape, clarity matters. Young players and their agents now look beyond money - they assess tactical fit, cultural alignment, developmental guarantees. Scouts need profiles, patterns, defined roles. Dortmund once had this. Klopp's aggressive press, fast transitions, and emotional swagger gave the club more than a style - it gave them a brand.But since Klopp's departure, that clarity has eroded. Eight different managers in 10 years. Shifts in approach. Mixed philosophies. And internal discord.
The Style That Slipped Away
Tactical confusion is now baked into the club's DNA. Before the 2024 Champions League final, Mats Hummels publicly criticised Edin Terzić's conservative tactics in earlier matches: "I felt insulted in my honour to stand on the pitch in that kit. So submissive. So inferior in footballing terms."That tension wasn't isolated. Since Klopp, the high-octane approach has gradually faded. Under Nuri Şahin, Dortmund ranked ninth in Bundesliga sprints, 14th in intensive runs, and 14th in distance covered. Numbers that point to stagnation, not ambition.
Niko Kovač's arrival in early 2025 has sparked tentative signs of life - but it's just that: tentative. The question remains whether the club even wants to revive the Dortmund Way - or if they've outgrown it entirely.
A Brand at a Crossroads
The myth of Borussia Dortmund still lingers. Their aura persists. But it's an image increasingly out of sync with reality. They're no longer the innovative underdog or the ideal stepping stone for wonderkids. Their playing style lacks consistency. Their recruitment is cautious, if not confused. And their rivals have adapted, evolving the very tactics and market strategies Dortmund used to own.Perhaps the greatest irony is that the club built its modern legacy on transformation - on embracing change under Klopp. And yet, right now, it feels like Dortmund are unsure of how to change again. Stuck between mythology and modernity, clinging to an outdated script while the football world writes a new one.
Whether the "Dortmund Way" can be rediscovered - or whether it's time to craft a new identity entirely - is a question only the next few seasons can answer.