Matthias Sammer is set to return to Borussia Dortmund as an external advisor, club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has announced.
The 50-year-old left Dortmund in 2004, and last worked in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. Sammer had been working as a pundit for Eurosport.
After winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles earlier this decade, Dortmund have gone through a difficult period in the past 18 months. As they try to close the gap with Bayern, who are set for their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title, Watzke announced on Friday they’re bringing Sammer back.
“We need someone like Matthias Sammer,” Watzke told Funke Media. “His ability to analyse, his passion, his identification, his clear view from the outside.”
After winning two Bundesliga titles as a player, and one as a coach in 2002, Sammer last worked as a sporting director for Bayern Munich — a role which saw him clash with Watzke and Dortmund many times.
“When his Bayern time came to an end, and we became older, more mature and sensible, we got closer again,” Watzke said. “I soon realised that he has a higher affinity for BVB than many would think.”
Watzke also announced that the club will be appointing a new head of the professional football department. Already last week, the club’s former captain Sebastian Kehl, 37, told 11 Freunde that he would take on a management role in Bundesliga soon, and Funke Media also confirmed that the former Germany international is one of two candidates for the role.
Last week, club sporting director Michael Zorc extended his contract until 2021.
Stephan Uersfeld is the Germany correspondent for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @uersfeld.
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