It’s spring of 2025, and I’m feeling rather reminiscent. A decade ago, Jürgen Klopp was finishing his final season in charge of Borussia Dortmund. Despite a lackluster Hindrunde, the club’s Rückrunde turned around as soon as the winter break finished. We all knew Klopp was heading to Liverpool in the summer, but it was a bittersweet period in BVB’s history. Klopp achieved great success during his eight seasons with Dortmund, securing the 2011-12 DFB Pokal, back-to-back league titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12 (a feat Dortmund still strives to replicate), and an awe-inspiring run to the 2013 UEFA Champions League final.
With eight years of success and stability at the club, it only seemed natural that Hans-Joachim Watzke and company would try the same strategy in recruiting their next manager. Recruiting an up-and-coming Mainz coach worked once before, so why not try again? That’s why they chose Thomas Tuchel as Klopp's successor.