Borussia Dortmund Sacks Nuri Şahin as Head Coach Following Poor Run of Form

Borussia Dortmund has announced the immediate dismissal of head coach Nuri Şahin following a series of unsatisfactory performances. 

The decision comes in the wake of a 2-1 defeat to Bologna in the Champions League, marking the team's fourth consecutive loss across all competitions. 

Şahin, a former Dortmund player with over 250 appearances, was appointed head coach in June 2024, succeeding Edin Terzić. Despite a promising tenure as Terzić's assistant and previous managerial experience at Antalyaspor, Şahin's leadership yielded only one victory in the last nine matches. This decline has left Dortmund positioned 10th in the Bundesliga, trailing league leaders Bayern Munich by 20 points, and jeopardizing their prospects for next season's Champions League qualification. 

Lars Ricken, Dortmund's managing director, expressed the club's rationale: "After four defeats in a row, due to only one win in the last nine games and currently tenth in the Bundesliga table, we have unfortunately lost faith in being able to achieve our sporting goals in the current constellation." 

The club is expected to announce an interim coach ahead of their upcoming league fixture against Werder Bremen. Speculation regarding Şahin's successor includes former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who is reportedly a leading candidate for the position.