With Fox Sports giving soccer fans in the United States a serious look at the Bundesliga for the first time in a long time, many fans will be tuning in for the first time. For many the upcoming 2015-16 season will be the first glimpse of the league as a whole, and with that in mind we give you a guide to each team. Good luck picking your side to support.
Club History:
Nickname: die Schwarzgelben (The Black-Yellows)
Founded: December 9, 1909
Club Colours: Yellow and Black
Primary Rivals: FC Schalke 04 (traditional) and Bayern Munich (recently)
DFB Pokal Trophies: 3 — 1964–65, 1988–89, 2011–12
Stadium: Signal Iduna Park (81,264 capacity), formerly Westfalenstadion.
Bundesliga History:
Bundesliga Titles: 8
Last Title: 20011-12
2014-15 Position: 7th
Best Position: Champion
Important 2014-15 Stats:
Top Goalscorer: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (16)
Top Assists: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (6)
Interesting Fact: Borussia Dortmund’s home matches have the highest home attendance average (80,000+) in the entire world.
2015-16 Information:
Manager: Thomas Tuchel (1st season at Borussia Dortmund)
Key Transfers In: MF Gonzalo Castro (from Bayer Leverkusen); MF Julian Weil (from TSV 1860 Munich)
Key Players Out: F Ciro Immobile (loan to Sevilla); MF Sebastian Kehl (retired)
Kit:
Players Worth Tuning In For: D Neven Subotić; F Marco Reus (vice captain); F Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (leading scorer and assists in 2014-15); MF Shinji Kagawa
Style of Play: Borussia Dortmund have long been a stylish side to watch, the question is will that continue under new manager Thomas Tuchel. He takes over for perhaps the most legendary coach in the clubs history — Jurgen Klopp. If things stay the same, expect a fit and attacking side that will frustrate opponents with multiple runs and from multiple angles and continue to press high all game long. Few in Germany play a more frantic and fun brand of soccer to watch. Few are also more susceptible to the counter attack than Dortmund. Let’s see if anything really changes with the Tuchel in the managers seat now.
Why You Should Support: Simply put, the atmosphere at the former Westfalenstadion is one of the best in the entire world. Over 80,000 supporters packed in and passionate for all 90 minutes simply can’t be topped.
It also doesn’t hurt that the club is one of the most successful in all of Germany, with its 8 German championships ranking third all-time. Recent history has it as one of the best sides in the country as well, being the only club outside of Bayern Munich to win more than one title since the 2000-01 season.
Cons Against Supporting: While it’s hard not to recognize the history, the passion and the huge attendances in the stadiums, perhaps you aren’t someone that likes to run with the popular kids. If that’s the case than this isn’t a club for you. Additionally, without Jurgen Klopp as manager Borussia Dortmund enters an interesting time in its history and could be in for a bit of a downward trend…so if you aren’t a fan of supporting clubs on the way down the ladder then again, this club may not be for you.
2015-16 Prediction: 4th out of 18
Life after Jurgen Klopp — I never thought we’d say that while he was still in his prime as a manager. However, the best thing to happen to Borussia Dortmund is off to rest a year and maybe a new adventure in management after that. The good news is that new manager Thomas Tuchel is well versed in the Bundesliga and doing more with less in terms of money for the squad. His managerial record at Mainz was pretty stellar considering the squad available and he should be a good choice to get the most out of the Dortmund side. While this side struggled a lot for most of the season, it still ended up pulling off a remarkable run to get to a European spot. Given Tuchel’s ability to get the most out of Mainz, I expect him to overachieve at Borussia Dortmund this season and make a run towards the Champions League.
