At a glance:
- Sebastian Kehl leading contender for Tottenham
- He is waiting to make a decision
- Matthias Sammer’s comments on him resurface
Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Sebastian Kehl as their leading contender for the Sporting Director position.
The German parted ways with Borussia Dortmund in March. According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, he is waiting to decide whether to return to football immediately. Tottenham have already opened talks with him.
Spurs are looking to replace Fabio Paratici, who joined Fiorentina in February this year. If Kehl arrives, he would be expected to work alongside Johan Lange, and not replace him.
However, Tottenham should be wary of Matthias Sammer’s comments about him.
Matthias Sammer’s comments emerge
Kehl was appointed Borussia Dortmund’s sporting director in 2022. In his debut season, Dortmund came close to winning the Bundesliga title, losing to Bayern Munich on goal difference.
In the following season, they reached the UEFA Champions League final, losing 2-0 against Real Madrid.
However, Kehl left in March this year, and Matthias Sammer has claimed this was due to his differences with the club’s hierarchy. The external BVB consultant said (h/t GOAL):
“I think it was the right decision to part ways. The two sides were no longer on the same page. So it’s only logical. I believe – and I really do say this respectfully – that they’d been at each other’s throats a bit.”
“It is the right decision for everyone involved. The club has the opportunity to make a change. It is important to part ways with dignity and grace,” he added.
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Kehl’s reported issues at Dortmund began in 2024, when Hans-Joachim Watzke stepped down. However, Lars Ricken was named the new sporting CEO instead of Kehl, who was interested in the role. This reportedly led to differences between them, eventually leading to the German’s exit.
Kehl’s Tottenham dynamic could be interesting
Tottenham are leading the race to sign Kehl as their Sporting Director.
However, he will not be alone in this role as he will be expected to work alongside Johan Lange. He joined the north London side in October 2023 and has faced a lot of criticism.
With Kehl’s recent history of a falling out with his working stakeholders, this could potentially be a point of concern for Tottenham.
Moreover, manager Roberto De Zerbi is also known to be a volatile character. He had a falling out with the hierarchy at both Brighton and Marseille, which eventually led to his departure.
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Hence, the German’s appointment could potentially prove to be another addition to the list of poor decisions made by the Tottenham board.
Regardless of whether they avoid relegation, Spurs must have a cohesive strategy from top to bottom for a rebuild. For that, the manager and the sporting directors must be on the same page at all times.
