Who will succeed Watzke and Zorc

It should actually start next year, the big change in the BVB leadership.

In 2021, sports director Michael Zorc’s old contract with the black and yellow team expired. It was an open secret that the 57-year-old wanted to retire after the end of his contract and hand over the baton to his successor. To SPORT1-Information was internally at BVB but all about the project.

The CHECK24 double pass with Dr. Hans-Joachim Watzke and Oliver Mintzlaff on Sunday from 11 a.m. on TV on SPORT1

All the more surprising the announcement of the contract extension. Zorc postpones his retirement for another year. “A few weeks ago, I personally asked Michael Zorc to hang on for another year. We are all happy at BVB and thankful that he responded to our request,” said Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke.

Corona crisis is changing plans

“I like to be on board and I still feel very vital. The appreciation of the club and my desire to remain in this position motivate me,” said Zorc at the press conference before the game against 1899 Hoffenheim. (Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund – 1899 Hoffenheim, Saturday 3.30 p.m. in LIVETICKER)

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The reason for the plan change is after SPORT1-Information on the ongoing Corona crisis. Due to the uncertain situation, Zorc’s successors are not going to get off to a tricky start.

In 2022, however, it could be ready. Because Zorc indicated his not too distant retreat at the press conference. “I am very motivated and happy. We still want to achieve something together. At some point there is a time when you could have other influences in the club.”

Dortmund will face a major construction site in sporting leadership in 2022. Because Watzke’s contract also ends on December 31, 2022. And the 61-year-old could then also withdraw from the operational business and possibly succeed Reinhard Rauball as BVB president. Because his term ends in the same year.

Watzke wants successor with “stable smell”

That means: BVB would have to fill the position of sports director and managing director in 2022. But who is a successor?

The possible successor to Zorc was actually already in the starting blocks. Ex-professional and captain Sebastian Kehl, who has been working as a licensed player at Borussia for two years, should be. With the year won, Zorc and Watzke also gained time to consider whether they really trusted Kehl in this role.

An internal solution is also sought for Watzke’s successor. This was revealed by the managing director in 2019 at SPOBIS. His successor should have the necessary “stable smell”, but also “the necessary leadership and competence”. At the time, he mentioned Zorc, Kehl, Lars Ricken and Matthias Sammer as possible candidates.

Cramer a candidate for Watzke’s successor?

While Ricken has been the youth coordinator for years, Sammer is not directly employed by BVB, he acts as an external consultant. It is questionable whether the master coach from 2002 would be available for such a responsible position after he stepped down as sports director of FC Bayern Munich in 2016 for health reasons.

Carsten Cramer could also be a possible candidate. The long-standing marketing director has been a member of the management at BVB since 2018. In the early days of his career, the lawyer worked as commercial manager for Preußen Münster before moving to the sports rights marketer Ufa. He has been responsible for marketing at Dortmund since 2010.

Regarding the coaching position, there has been definitive clarity since Thursday. BVB is entering the new season with Lucien Favre. There is also a contract extension beyond 2021. “We are entering the new season in this constellation and want to attack. We have a good relationship of trust and will have the talks in due course,” said Zorc.

In the not too distant future, Zorc and Watzke will have to hold talks about their own potential successors. Because while the change in the leadership of FC Bayern is in full swing, it is also not long in coming for the runner-up.

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