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For modern fans of world football, the Bundesliga has almost always been associated with Bayern Munich, due to both domestic and European successes. However, the German giants BVB have been teetering on the edge of average and pure class for years.
Now, under manager Jürgen Klopp, Dortmund have bounced up the rankings in world football and now can be counted as a respectable challenge for any “world class” side. As Dortmund’s race for their 2nd successive Bundesliga title for only the second year in the club’s 102 year old history really heats up, I take a look through the history of the club.
Through their roller coaster Bundesliga standings of the mid to late 1900’s to the financial troubles plaguing them as they entered the new millennium. Whatever the state of the club, Dortmund are a team about the players and throughout their history, they’ve had some shining stars that are still fresh in the minds of European football fans across the globe. Without further a-due, here is my ideal XI throughout the history of BVB Dortmund FC.
GK: Stefan Klos
Klos defines every ideal characteristic in an ideal goalkeeper. Strong, fit, agile and loyal. Clocking over 350 appearances for Dortmund, he led the team in their Champions League winning 1996-1997 campaign and was a recurring face in their 1994-1995 and 1995-1996 Bundesliga title winning teams.
Both a club and fan favourite, the 40 year old German is the ideal candidate to be between the sticks in their all time XI.
LB: Jorg Heinrich
A versatile player (known to play on both wings, full backs or central), Heinrich was not a prolific player at the club. In his initial two year spell, he made 81 appearances scoring 11 goals, and on his return from 2000-2003, he appeared 63 times scoring 7. In his debut season, Heinrich appeared in 17 Bundesliga matches and won the title that season.
In the following two seasons, he established himself as a regular, appearing in 64 out of 68 Bundesliga matches. In 1997, he also won the Champions League, appearing in the 3-1 final victory over Juventus.
On his return to Dortmund in 2000, he was more of a rotation player but still managed to win the Bundesliga title in 2002 and appeared in Dortmund’s 2002-2003 Champions League campaign. Whilst not the very best player, he was with Dortmund for a number of years and has proven his worth in the titles he has won with the club.
CB’s: Christian Worns and Jurgen Kohler
Two legendary centre backs that have in total, racked up over 400 appearances for the club. Strong, powerful and intimidating, the pairing won three Bundesliga titles, a Champions League title, a Europa League and more.
Sure, they played at separate times but if they did, there’s no doubt they’d be one of the greatest pairings of all time.
RB: Stefan Reuter
Reuter moved to Borussia Dortmund in 1992, making 307 Bundesliga appearances over the next 12 years. He boasts of being able to have the second most appearances ever for Dortmund and in his time, he won over seven major club titles, including three Bundesliga titles, two German Super Cups and a Champions League.
Never afraid to make a tackle and good with the ball at his feet, Reuter will forever be remembered for being one of Dortmund’s best ever defenders.
CM: Siegfried Held
Now here’s one for the ages! Siegfried Held served his initial spell at Dortmund in the mid 1960’s and made an impression, making over 183 appearances in 6 seasons.
Whilst not the most successful player at the club, he won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup and was a runner up in the 1965-1966 Bundesliga season, helping Dortmund establish respectable league positions in his time there.
CM: Matthias Sammer
Sammer is a true club legend, being both a manager and a legendary player. As a player, he capped 115 appearances in five years winning two Bundesliga titles, two Super Cup’s and a Champions League.
Later in his managerial job, he won the Bundesliga in 2001-2002 and was the runner-up to the UEFA Cup in 2002.
No all time XI would be complete without him and he could be considered the best German CM of the 1990’s.
CM: Andreas Moller
Yet another legend to make two separate spells at Dortmund, he made 228 Bundesliga appearances. He was a respectably good player in his first spell, but upon his return, he helped Dortmund win five major titles in six years (two Bundesliga titles, two Super Cups and a Champions League). He also won the Euros with Germany in 1996.
Some fans recognise him as a “traitor” for leaving Dortmund for bitter rivals Schalke 04 (opponents in the Revier Derby). However, because of his insanely successful six year spell, many can forgive him.
ST: Stephane Chapuisat
The left-footed Swiss hitman had exceptional dribbling and finishing abilities and as a result, quickly established himself as a legendary striker. In 228 appearances he scored 106 goals, helping Dortmund to win the Bundesliga twice, and the Champions League.
After his eight year spell, he transferred to Grasshoppers Club Zurich and again, found form. Whoever he has played for, he was a pure assassin in-front of goal, ensuring that he is a face to remember in European football.
ST: Manfred Burgsmuller
Whilst Manfred didn’t earn as many titles at Dortmund as his talent would suggest, he was a prolific scorer who scored 135 goals in 224 appearances from 1976-1983. In his seven years at the club, he didn’t win a single major title.
However, Dortmund managed to establish decent league positions throughout this period and his deadly finishing was feared throughout the league.
ST: Lothar Emmerich
Emmerich was at the opposite end of the field to Siegfried Held in Dortmund’s “average” era! Throughout his nine year spell at the club, he made 215 appearances scoring 126 goals. Whilst only winning the UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the German Cup, he nabbed two Bundesliga top scorer awards in the 1965-1966 (31 goals) and 1966-1967 (28 goals) seasons.
Drenched with scoring talent and always finding himself in useful positions, Lothar Emmerich was a class talent that is permanently remembered in Bundesliga history.
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Written by Harry Burden
