Nils-Ole Book hoping to "develop the potential" in Dortmund's next chapter
Nils-Ole Book hoping to "develop the potential" in Dortmund's next chapter Growing up less than half an hour away from Dortmund in a town called Beckum, it comes as no surprise that Borussia Dortmund's new sporting director Nils-Ole Book grew up adoring stars who donned the famous yellow and black kit. “Because I was a midfielder, first it was Andy Möller. And at some point, of course, he had to come down from the poster.
Later it was Tomáš Rosický. My position was a direct reflection of them," said Book, in an interview with the official Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL). The 40-year-old, who built a name for himself at 2.
Bundesliga side SV Elversberg, earned his stripes in the Saarland. However, Book revealed that it was always a lifelong dream of his to reach the German topflight – Elversberg didn't stand in his way either. “Yes, it was absolutely a goal to work in the Bundesliga.
Of course, when you do good work over years, maybe also as a club, as a team, and then personally as well, and you are successful, then it also becomes a realistic goal to go that way. “In the end, it [my release clause] came from my conviction that this is a club where I would not want contractual matters to prevent me from taking that step. That was always communicated openly, including in Elversberg.
"My confidant, the president [Frank Holzer], knew exactly what the situation would be if Dortmund got in touch. Because this is a special club for me, there was also this special clause for it," Book said, underlining his delight at joining the Westphalians. Despite coming in during a blaze of drama at Dortmund involving Sebastian Kehl's exit, Book has kept a low profile.