No sheikhs here - we earn our money ourselves, says Borussia Dortmund legend

Lars Ricken (Dortmund, July 10, 1976) is a living legend at Borussia Dortmund. His strike in the 1997 final in Munich against Juventus was pivotal in bringing home the club’s only Champions League title. Now, he’s set to take over from Hans-Joachim Watzke at the helm of Dortmund’s management. Ricken spoke to AS ahead of Dortmund’s first leg Champions League clash with Barça, making it clear: this season’s final game for the club should once again be in the Bavarian capital.

A final in Munich, like this year’s – must bring back good memories.

Absolutely, yes.

That 3-1 win over Juve, your goal helping secure Borussia’s only Champions League – how was it?

Honestly, if I hadn’t seen the footage a thousand times, I probably wouldn’t even remember the goal itself. I scored, and we all just lost it. Funny thing is, two of the biggest moments in my career happened in Munich: that Bundesliga title in 1996 after drawing with 1860 away, and the Champions League. And yet I never managed to beat Bayern in Munich with BVB.

Barça wasn’t exactly a happy memory either.

Right, I only faced them in the two legs of the 1998 UEFA Super Cup – and we lost. Another round against Iván de la Peña in midfield – I don’t even know how many times we’d already gone head-to-head with our national teams. I think he had 120 touches in the first leg and I had 10. He was unbelievable. Figo was captain, Van Gaal was on the bench. We lost 2-0 in the first leg and drew 1-1 in the return. Few matches have ever made me feel that outclassed.

“Bellingham surprised us all; he left a huge hole.”

Lars Ricken

From almost winning the Champions League last season to sitting 10th in the Bundesliga now. What happened to Dortmund?

A lot has gone wrong – especially considering we have the second-highest budget in Germany. Since that final, we’ve had three different coaches and we’re eighth – that’s simply not acceptable. Most of us, including the German media, thought we’d strengthened enough to compete for titles again, but clearly we lacked that competitive edge across the board. There were highs and lows, but the numbers don’t lie: we’ve only managed back-to-back league wins twice all season. We need to self-reflect and, if necessary, make tough decisions. But only after the season ends. Until then, every single point matters – both in terms of sporting goals and financially, as qualifying for Europe means millions in revenue.

With six games to go, BVB is five points off the Champions League spots. Is there financial pressure to qualify?

Missing out would be a hit – financially and reputationally. But I doubt there are many clubs that have made nine consecutive appearances like we have. And don’t forget, the new Club World Cup is a demanding tournament that brings in additional income, which could help us cover any shortfall. That said, we’re not treating it like a summer friendly tour. It’s a sporting challenge, and we want to see BVB go as far as possible.

Will that mean having to sell again?

It’s no secret that selling has always been part of our business model. Dortmund is a city of 600,000. We don’t have sheikhs or sovereign funds to bail us out. We earn our money ourselves. If you want to compete with the top clubs year after year – which we’ve done, currently ranking seventh in Europe – we need to close a big sale every now and then. Just like we did with Haaland, Dembélé, Sancho, or Aubameyang. Sell, yes. But not give away. That will never happen. We’re in great financial health! Aki Watzke has done an outstanding job for two decades.

Those performance bonuses in Dembélé's contract must’ve brought smiles in the Dortmund offices.

Honestly? No. Of course, we were happy to see the money come in. But Barça also paid for a player who puts people in seats. No matter how many euros it brings in, it’s always tough to part with a special talent. Just imagine the team we’d have if none of them had left.

But Bellingham’s departure must’ve hurt even more – even if, by some accounts, he went for less than Dembélé.

When you’re talking numbers at that level, it doesn’t really matter who brought in a few more euros. What I can say is that Jude – a player we took a risk on from England’s second tier – stunned everyone. On the pitch and as a person. He left a big hole. He always gave everything for BVB.

Do you fear Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen could replace Dortmund as Bayern’s main rival in the Bundesliga?

What they’re doing is impressive – not just in Leverkusen, but also in cities like Frankfurt and Leipzig where ambition, resources, and smart sporting decisions have come together. But don’t forget: thanks to our recent Champions League record, we’re one of only two German teams going to the new Club World Cup. Despite falling short this season, Borussia Dortmund still stands for long-term success..

You’re succeeding Hans-Joachim Watzke, who’s been CEO for 20 years. How will the Yellow Wall remember him – and how do you want to be remembered?

He’s left an unforgettable mark on this club – and remains one of Europe’s most influential executives. Just recently he was named UEFA vice president. Aki and the entire board made it incredibly easy for me to step into this role. Beyond all the trophies we’ve won under his leadership, what defined Aki was his calmness and wisdom in tough times – whether it was near-insolvency, the bus bombing, or the pandemic. No employee lost a single euro, no one was laid off, and we didn’t take a dime of public money. Aki always put BVB ahead of himself. As for me – I think I’ve already shown I won’t hesitate to roll up my sleeves for the good of this club. I’ve already let go of 10 staff members in just a few months. My only goal right now is to get this ship back on course – fast and steady.

With Kovac at the helm?

Giving Niko a deal through 2026 was intentional. We didn’t want it to seem like a stopgap hire. And we can see – with data to back it up – that the team has improved under him. We’re creating far more chances again, we lead Germany in defensive duels won, and we’re conceding fewer goals. We still need to be more clinical, but if we stay on this path, we’ll get there.

Borussia has always backed youth. But this season you’re out of the top 20 for minutes given to U21 players. Why?

True. Our average age this season was 27.3 – the highest this millennium. Lowering it again will take time, but it has to be the goal. That said, our real strength has always come from mixing young, hungry talent with experienced pros like Gündogan, Lewandowski, or Hummels. A youngster matures faster when he has a veteran guiding him.

Barça did just that with Lamine and company – and now they’re reaping the rewards. As a former academy director, I can tell you: Barcelona has always been a role model in that sense. We’re talking about arguably the best academy in the world. They consistently produce gems – and integrate and develop them perfectly in the first team. Of course, young talents will make mistakes at the top level – if they didn’t, they’d be 30 already. But developing them is only half the job. You also need a coach like Hansi Flick who believes in them, and veterans like Lewy to support them. It’s a beautiful system, but it’s also one we’re confident facing.

“When he was just 14, we already had a report that Lamine could make the jump to pro football”

Lars Ricken

You were 20 when you scored that goal against Juve in the Champions League final. Lamine is 17. Any advice?

You know why I’m not at all surprised he’s this good?

Tell me.

I recently came across a scouting report of ours – Lamine must’ve been around 14. And everyone agreed: it wouldn’t be long before he made the jump to pro football. Sometimes stars like him, Bellingham or Sancho just burst through. The key, beyond the club’s foundation, is the social environment that helps keep them grounded when they’re flying – and lifts them up when things get tough. And it’s vital to keep that hunger – like Lewandowski, who still lives for every goal despite having won it all.

Still surprised by Lewandowski at 36?

Not at all. We know him well – he’s one of the most professional players this sport has ever seen. We signed him when Lucas Barrios was our starting striker. He waited for his shot – no complaints, just hard work. The fact he’s still leading the Barça attack at his age is thanks to taking care of every detail: fitness, diet, sleep. In that sense, Lewy and Cristiano Ronaldo are the blueprint every academy player should follow.

Did you ever cross paths with Flick during your career?

I met him when he was sporting director with the German national team. So I wasn’t surprised when he succeeded at Bayern – or with how well he’s doing now at Barça. He’s a tactical mastermind, but also a genuinely warm person who connects with players. He’s easy to trust. What he’s building at Barcelona proves that the sextuple with Bayern was no fluke.

You’ve faced both Flick’s Barça (2-3) and Real Madrid (5-2) in the Champions League group stage. Who impressed you more?

Tough call. From Madrid, I’d highlight that typical resilience – coming back from 0-2 down. And from Barça, the cold-blooded calm with which they showed up at our place and took the win. But regardless of that match, I think Barça will respect us over two legs. They saw the final against Madrid – and a Dortmund win wouldn’t have been unfair. They know we knocked out Atlético and PSG last season. And that we almost beat them in the group stage. We don’t just need one magical night in the return leg – we need two. But why not make it happen like we’ve done so many times before?

And then a double stop in Munich – semis and final?

(Laughs) I wouldn’t mind. In fact, I’d sign for it right now. But first, Bayern need to get past Inter.

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