Dominant Dortmund. Part 1...

greetings roaders.


I thought this issue, I would focus on a team outside of the Premier League (indeed this issue will be staggered over the course of this week as I want to go into things at length) A team who have had past glories and until fairly recently, have faded into the limelight of European Football. A team who I have followed with interest for four years. A team who I would like to claim as my fourth team (but that would be ridiculous)


Borussia Dortmund.


Dortmunds history had its golden era (much like PSGs) in the mid 90s. Ottmar Hitzfeld was at the helm for much of their success. After being hired in 1991, Dortmund went on to win the Bundesliga in '95 and '96 for two successive years and beat a much fancied Juventus side 3 -1, in a memorable 1997 Champions League Final in Munich. The side included European Champion Matthias Sammer, Lars Ricken and the prolific Jan Koller

The years that followed saw their downfall. Hitzfeld was sacked in '98. The Westfalenstadion, (named after the region of Westphalia, where it is located) Dortmund's home, started to mount up debt, due to poor management and the economic climate in Germany. In 2000, the club were floated on the German Stock Exchange with little success. This set the club back further.

In 2006, the stadium was renamed Signal Iduna Park - as it is now - to reduce debts. The stadium is named after a local insurance company. The stadium is the biggest in Germany ahead of the Allianz Arena and Veltins Arena. It holds up to 80,000 people. Any visitors can be assured of an electric, partizan atmosphere.

Though a 'fresh' stadium and fresh financial approach was installed, Dortmund remained in the doldrums until 2008, when Jurgen Klopp was appointed. At the time, Klopp had just resigned as manager of relegated Mainz and was a free agent. In his first year alone, he won the the DFB Supercup (the equivalent of the Capital One Cup), beating Bayern in the final. It was clear that Klopps approach of attacking football had reinvigorated the former champions of Europe.



In the 2010/11 season, Dortmund won the Bundesliga - at a canter - winning the championship with two games remaining. The following season, they defended their title successfully, winning the Bundesliga with a record total of 81 points, together with winning the DFB Pokal, to win Dortmund's first-ever domestic football double. Winning the Bundesliga that season, for the fifth time now means players wear two stars above the crest on their shirts.

In their first season back in the Champions League last term, they made a lot of admirers with their attacking style. However they could only finish bottom of their group behind Arsenal, Olympiacos and Marseille. Marseille, after conceding two late goals at home in the final group game, meaning they missed out on place in the latter rounds of the Europa League.

One former player of that winning roster included Man Utd's Shinji Kagawa (much of whom's performances got him the move).

in Part 2, I will focus on the current roster, Dortmunds current style influences and the potential bright, almost golden, but most certainly exciting future, that may be in store for Germanys most fashionable club.