Football Bundesliga
Watzke is no longer managing director of BVB – reconciliation with Lunow
Hans-Joachim Watzke has stepped down as BVB boss and wants to lead his parent club as president in the future. The election was postponed. There was a public reconciliation on stage.
After more than 20 years, Hans-Joachim Watzke is no longer managing director of capital company Borussia Dortmund. “This is my last general meeting as managing director of KGaA. There is a lot of sadness involved,” Watzke said at a general meeting of BVB, where he would later be elected president of his parent club. The 66-year-old was the only candidate put forward by the election committee after incumbent President Reinhold Lunow withdrew his original candidacy.
Former BVB treasurer Watzke moved into company management in 2005. During his tenure, BVB’s economic restructuring and sporting recovery occurred with two championships, three cup wins and two Champions League final appearances.
Presidential election postponed
The presidential election was postponed due to technical problems. Therefore, the entire event started an hour late. So that in theory all 238,000 members could vote digitally, the general meeting was held in hybrid form for the first time. However, the technology initially went on strike, so the agenda was changed and individual items were proposed without a vote.
The fan department was also quick to criticize the run-up to the presidential election. Councilor Tobias Westerfellhaus spoke about “questionable twists and turns in an election campaign that ultimately was not an election campaign” to a standing ovation from the members present. BVB’s fan department targeted a public dispute in the summer that arose after Lunow’s unexpected candidacy was announced and only ended after his resignation. “These months have shown that our club is in dire need of change,” said Westerfellhaus.
Public reconciliation between Watzke and Lunow
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However, Watzke and Lunow openly showed unity and approached each other. “Dear Reinhold Lunow: You have always supported me and were there when we looked into the abyss. I want to thank you very much for that today,” Watzke said in his farewell speech.
Lunow reacted with emotion. We have done many things together. There have been difficulties recently, we have separated, it is not necessarily our fault. It’s also because the people around us fuel it. It wasn’t necessary, the 72-year-old said through tears.
dpa
