Should Borussia Dortmund stick with Emre Can in midfield?
By Brook Genene
In July 2023, a couple of months after the disappointing end to Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga campaign and following Marco Reus' resignation from the role of captain, the club needed a new leader. Edin Terzic’s number one choice was Emre Can, and the midfielder was given the job, a decision that came as somewhat of a surprise as he was a candidate for sale not long before that.
"It makes me incredibly proud to be captain of such a big club. I would like to thank everyone involved for this," were Can’s words at the time.
In addition to his role as captain, Emre Can was also offered a contract extension until 2026. "We value his hunger, his physicality, his absolute desire to win every game, and that's not only the case at Borussia Dortmund, but in the national team too. Emre is a strong, mature character and possesses a wealth of international experience. He will help us further develop and stabilise this team. We're really happy to continue on this path with Emre," declared BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
But the main reasons for all of this was the huge belief Terzic had in Can. The coach said no to other signings and chose to stick with the German midfielder. The likes of Edson Alvarez were heavily linked with BVB last summer. The reports even suggested that Sebastian Kehl was strongly pushing to sign the Mexican international. But in the end, talks broke down and Can was given the club captaincy and a contract extension.