Let’s go, Dortmund!

9 June 2024

For the fourth time, Borussia Dortmund has traveled to the Marveld Tournament in Groenlo. After previous participations in 1997, 1998, and 2017, they are back at the starting line this year. Joining us at the table is coach Marco Lehmann, who is attending Groenlo for the first time.

A New Composition

The team with which Borussia Dortmund is competing this weekend is a completely new composition, both in terms of players and staff, as Marco points out: “For us, it’s actually a big introduction weekend, as we are in the middle of transitioning the teams for the next season. The tournament is very suitable for that, especially with the presence of so many good teams.” Since Borussia Dortmund’s philosophy is to move the best players up to the next age category as quickly as possible, they have had to sacrifice some quality for this weekend. “We want the boys to push their limits, which is why we also brought six younger boys to introduce them to the level. You can tell they have never played together before, as it’s not running smoothly yet,” Marco describes the challenges of his team.

After a 2-0 loss to Chinese Football Boys, a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord followed. On Saturday morning, Lehmann’s team started with a 1-0 defeat against Barcelona, after which Grol was beaten 2-0, resulting in the first three-pointer. Saturday ended with a 3-0 loss to KRC Genk, placing them 5th in the group and setting them up to play for 9th to 12th place on Sunday.

Norms and Values

One striking aspect during Borussia Dortmund’s matches is the mutual respect within the team. Each player and staff member gives each other a firm high-five or handshake before and after the game, as well as during the break. When we ask Marco about this, he says that certain norms and values are hugely important within the entire Borussia Dortmund organization. “This is very important to us because the youth and the first team train at the same complex. They meet each other daily and must interact in the same way,” Marco explains.

Respect, diligence, discipline, and humility are just four examples of the values that Borussia Dortmund players must possess. “But also things here at the tournament like pushing in chairs, clearing the table, and doing everything together at the agreed time. Over the years, we have noticed that not always the best or biggest footballers break through, but often the hard workers who are willing to give it their all.”

Successful Training for the Yellow Wall (“Gelbe Wand”)

Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy is known for its successes and the many players who find their way into professional football. Marco explains that they have the highest percentage of players who make it to the professional level: “Not only at Dortmund but also at other clubs in the first, second, or third Bundesliga. From our A-youth, 10 to 15 players become professionals every year.”

As the players get older, Borussia Dortmund does everything possible to let the best players play together from the U17 and U18 onwards. Marco: “We want to compete for trophies and win matches with the best teams. We are fully committed to that.” On the other hand, they also keep a close eye on developments in international football. They regularly look at other European teams to see what the players will need on the field in 3 to 4 years. All with the ultimate goal of having players debut in the first team, preferably at home in Signal Iduna Park, also known as the Westfalenstadion, with the world-famous ‘Gelbe Wand’.

All Together to Wembley

The spirit of ‘togetherness’ flows through the veins of everything and everyone with a yellow/black heart, as becomes clear when we discuss this season’s Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid on the hallowed grass of Wembley. Marco begins to beam as he talks about the wonderful experience of the past weekend: “Every employee was invited to go to London for the final at Wembley. But also all youth players aged 12 and older boarded the plane to London, so we went there with over 800 ‘Borussen’.” In London itself, the entire Hard Rock Café was rented out before the match, after which everyone went together to Wembley to watch the game.

“We were perhaps the better team for an hour, but unfortunately, we just couldn’t convert our chances. On the other hand, it is nice to reach the final partly with boys from our own youth, knocking out teams with much different budgets,” says Marco proudly. After the lost Champions League final at Wembley against FC Bayern Munich in 2013 and this year’s lost final against Real Madrid, the final will be played again at Wembley in 10 years or maybe even sooner. Who knows, maybe one or more players from the current Marveld selection will be in the first team then: “That would be a very nice reward for all the efforts we make with the youth academy to get our boys on that stage,” concludes Marco. One thing is certain, ‘Auf geht’s Dortmund!’.