Hans-Joachim Watzke admitted that the conflict surrounding his nomination as president of Borussia Dortmund dealt him a personal blow.
Hans-Joachim WatzkeOn the eve of the general meeting, where he was supposed to lead the club after 20 years in management, the current president, Reinhold Lunow, unexpectedly expressed his desire to stay, which was perceived as an insult to Watzke. Later, Lunow stepped back, but the effects of the power struggle remained.
Watzke reported that disputes around the club’s sponsorship by a weapons manufacturer spoiled long-standing relationships with partners. He promised to revisit the issue of cooperation at the meeting at the end of 2026: if the majority of members are against renewing the contract, he guarantees that the deal will not be extended. The club members had already expressed this position during a vote in 2024.
