Key Figures

The Dresden-born midfielder joined Dortmund in the winter of 1992/93. Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld converted him into a sweeper whose record remains imposing: two Bundesliga titles (1995, 1996), the Champions League (1997), and the Intercontinental Cup. Sammer was named European Footballer of the Year in 1996 after leading Germany to the European Championship. A persistent knee injury forced his retirement in 1998 at just 30. He returned to Dortmund as an external advisor in 2018.

In Dortmund, football is not the most beautiful sideshow in the world — it is the main event. Klopp's ability to develop players came from Mainz, where he shaped future coaches and internationals. One could argue: no German World Cup title in 2014 without Klopp, since both Mats Hummels and Mario Goetze became internationals under him. Klopp revitalized the BVB not just on the pitch — his press conference appearances became legendary. He led Dortmund back to the top of the Bundesliga, making BVB the clear number two behind Bayern. His self-initiated departure in 2015 despite an ongoing contract was tearful. 'Everything I am, everything I can do, you made me become,' he said at his farewell.

No other player embodies BVB's successful youth development like Lars Ricken. He scored the 3-1 against Juventus seconds before the end of extra time in the 1997 Champions League final — having been on the pitch for just 70 minutes after replacing Stephane Chapuisat. Ricken had noticed that Juve keeper Angelo Peruzzi often stood far off his line, and lobbed the ball over the surprised goalkeeper from 30 meters. A severe ligament injury caused by Bielefeld's Uwe Fuchs derailed his career trajectory. He made only 16 international appearances — too few for his talent.

The striker who died in 2003 scored 126 goals in 215 Bundesliga matches. In the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup, no player has scored more goals in a single season than 'Emma,' who famously told teammates in Dortmund dialect to 'give me the cherry.' He became the BVB's first Bundesliga top scorer in 1966 with 31 goals. His most famous goal came at the 1966 World Cup against Spain — a shot from an impossible angle with his legendary left foot. The BVB mascot, a black-and-yellow bee, still bears the name 'Emma' today.

Midfielder, captain, the heart of the BVB. The Dortmund native won two German championships as a player (1995, 1996) and the Champions League in 1997, making 463 Bundesliga appearances — a club record at the time. From 2005 until his retirement in 2022, Zorc served as sporting director for 17 years, overseeing the Klopp revolution, the Haaland and Bellingham eras, and countless transfer coups. From head to toe, nobody embodies BVB more than Michael Zorc.

Leonardo de Deus Santos arrived from Brazil as a 20-year-old in 1998 and stayed for 13 remarkable years. The left-back made 322 Bundesliga appearances and became one of the most beloved foreign players in the club's history. His consistency, loyalty, and warm personality made him a fan favorite across generations. When Dede finally departed in 2011, the Westfalenstadion gave him an emotional farewell that reflected the deep bond between player and club.