Watzke made the announcement this Monday, January 8 in Marbella, Spain, where BVB are currently holding their winter training camp.
Watzke had previously informed the Executive Committee of the Advisory Board of Borussia Dortmund Geschäftsführungs-GmbH, chaired by President Reinhold Lunow, of his decision and also made a request to the committee that he be relieved of his overall responsibility for sporting matters by June 30, 2024 at the latest in order to prepare for the smoothest-possible transition.
The Executive Committee has granted Watzke’s request and asked him to put together and present proposals for a succession plan for the sporting division.
During a press conference at Hotel Gran Melia Don Pepe, Watzte said: “Next year, I’ll have been in office for 20 years. I’ve increasingly been feeling that the point has come where I say: enough is enough at some point.” The chief executive officer went on to say: “I wanted to make it public early on in order to preside over the transition over the next year and a half. This is the right time to draw any conclusions. It was important to me that I could announce my departure from this role in a self-determined manner. I’m very grateful to my club for giving me the opportunity all these years. I consider it a great privilege to have always felt the trust.”