Exclusive: Borussia Dortmund Legend Ibrahim Tanko Confident BVB Can Achieve Top Four Finish

Ibrahim Tanko remains confident that Borussia Dortmund can achieve a top-four Bundesliga finish despite their slow start to the 2024-25 season. He also advocates for appointing a non-legendary manager to bring stability and to help retain key players, ensuring long-term success for the club.

Borussia Dortmund legend Ibrahim Tanko is confident that his former club can secure a top-four finish in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season, despite their slow start.

After finishing fifth last season, BVB had hoped for a stronger campaign, with aspirations of challenging for the title. However, they currently sit seventh in the standings, having lost four of their first ten matches.

Their recent 3-1 defeat to Mainz has raised doubts about Borussia Dortmund's ability to end their 12-year wait for the Bundesliga title, with fans expressing concern over their inconsistent form.

Regardless, the former Ghana midfielder – who won two Bundesliga titles during his seven-year stint at Signal Iduna Park – remains optimistic about their chances of finishing the season strongly.

"Borussia Dortmund have not made a very good start this season. I think we have a very young manager, who is a club legend and definitely he is not going to get it rolling from the beginning," Tanko told SportsBoom.com.

"He would need time and as well as the new players who have come in. It is a gradual process and definitely, they will come back strongly. 

"This is a possibility despite the fact that there are a lot of good teams performing well. I expect them to see them make the top four with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen."

WHY EMRE CAN AND TEAMMATES ARE UNDER PRESSURE

Dortmund players are under increasing pressure, with rising expectations from fans, the media, and internal sources creating a tense atmosphere as the team works to demonstrate its value in the league.

Captain Emre Can recently addressed the media criticism directed at him, describing it as "below the belt." While Tanko acknowledges the harmful effects of such constant scrutiny, he explains why it is likely to persist.

He continued: "In football business, the money is getting more as the sponsors are coming. Definitely, players are getting under pressure to perform.

"That is reason and to be fair, it is not only him. It is everywhere. If you are winning, it is no problem but if it is not going well, the journalists will start talking and then you will feel that they are pressuring you. 

"This is modern day football, you don’t expect the pressure to reduce and as a layer, you have to know that."

DORTMUND NEED A NON-LEGEND LEADER 

While appointing club legends offers benefits for the former European champions, the 47-year-old notes that it can also lead to potential conflicts.

According to him, individuals may find it difficult to make objective decisions or move beyond the legacy of their playing careers. As a result, he suggests appointing non-legends to guide the club towards stability.

"They need to bring in someone who is not a legend to manage the club. Dortmund right now have three legends leading the club,” Tanko added. 

"We have Matthias Sammer, Sebastian Kehl as well as Lars Ricken, they are connected to the club and definitely there will be conflict of decision because all of them are former players. 

"I think it is time now for the club give someone who is not attached to the club – a competent one – to oversee the team."

TANKO ON KEYS TO MAKE DORTMUND GREAT AGAIN

Dortmund’s presence in both German and international football, combined with its strong community roots and vibrant identity, makes them one of the most prominent football clubs in the world.

The legend outlines strategies for the club to regain its greatness, including retaining key talents and fostering an environment that supports both immediate success and long-term development.

Tanko stated: "Dortmund are a club well known for coming back strongly after setbacks. I remember during our time, after we won the Champions League, German Cup and the Germany league, they team nearly went bankrupt.

"This was because of the money the club spent buying stars like Paulo Sousa, Andreas Moller, and Julio Cesar da Silva from Italy. But when [Jurgen] Klopp came, things changed as he developed the young talents and put them up for sale. 

"Since then, Dortmund have been a selling club. That was why the likes of [Robert] Lewandowski and [Erling] Haaland left after a few seasons.

"If you want to challenge Bayern Munich, you need quality. You cannot be selling your best legs to other clubs. Consistency is what they need now and I am sure it would come."

The eight-time Bundesliga champions will be looking to get back to winning ways as they welcome fifth-placed Freiburg on Saturday. Julian Schuster's Breisgau Brazilians are unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions.