Borussia Dortmund: From financial rags to footballing riches

Bad management in the board room has been long forgotten in the North Rhine-Westphalia as good management on the pitch is making sure Borrusia Dortmund are running away with the Bundesliga.


19 games in and Dortmund are 11 points clear, losing only twice in the process. Last year's champions Bayern Munich are a further 3 points back in 4th. This is the first time they have mounted a serious title challenge since they finished 3rd in 2003.


This is mainly to do with bad financial management. Die Schwarzgelben became the first German side to become a public listed company in 2000. It was the first club to do so, no other club has followed their lead. A high level of debt led to the sale of the Westfalenstadion in 2002, and bankruptcy loomed 3 years later as the club were struggling in paying the money back to a real estate trust. The club were spared liquidation with the trust allowing the cutting back the asset's interest rates and allowed the club to pay the rates after financial reorganisation.

a graph showing the value of Dortmund shares 2000-2011

With the threat of Bankruptcy behind them, and the purchase of the now named Signal Iduna Park in 2006 Dortmund could begin rebuilding. it would be no quick fix. the 2007/2008 would be rock bottom. A lowly 13th place finish signaled change (however they did get to the DFB-Pokal final, losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich).


Jürgen Klopp was appointed manager in the summer of 2008 and immediately improved the fortunes of Dortmund. 'retaining' the un-official DFL-Supercup (Dortmund won the last official Supercup final in 1996) in a 2-1 victory over Bayern. an improved Bundesliga finish of 6th was achieved.

The 2009/2010 season, Dortmund finished 1 place higher and securing Europa League football this season. They failed to get past the group stage, but this new Dortmund team is full of young talent. Defender Neven Subotić, 22 is linked with a number of top European clubs, Shinji Kagawa, 21 has contributed with 8 goals from midfield in the first half of the season, Nuri Şahin (22) and Mats Hummels (22) all featuring heavilly in this successful side this season. Noteable victories include a 3-1 away win at fierce rivales Schalke, a 5-0 thrashing of Kaiserslautern and a impressive 2-0 home victory of Bayern Munich.

Dortmund are looking good value for their 11 point lead, and a first Bundesliga title since 2002 beckons. With   the financial troubles behind them, Dortmund could be sitting at the top of the German pile for a little longer. A  second Champions League in the future? Who knows, this squad is good and young enough to mount a serious European challenge.