In essence, the league president, as per Hellmann's comments, refers to Watzke. - Essentially referring to Watzke as if he were a president within the League, according to Hellmann.
In the world of German football, Aki Watzke, CEO of Borussia Dortmund (BVB), is a prominent figure. Currently serving as the spokesman for the executive committee of the German Football League (DFL), Watzke is widely regarded as the league's de facto president due to his influential role[1].
Watzke has announced his intention to step down from his operational role at BVB by the end of 2025, but he is also considering running for the club’s presidency[1]. This internal competition notwithstanding, some see Watzke as indispensable for the DFL, given his strong influence in both sports and the broader economic and political spheres in Germany[1]. The German Football League’s general assembly, where the executive committee will be elected, is scheduled to take place in Berlin in early September[2].
Watzke has expressed his willingness to continue in his DFL role if supported by the league shareholders[1]. Meanwhile, Axel Hellmann, board spokesman for Eintracht Frankfurt, has shown his support for Watzke's potential presidency[3]. Hellmann believes that Watzke's influence extends beyond football, making him well-suited to lead the DFL[3].
Reinhold Lunow, the incumbent at BVB, has also announced that he will run again for the presidency of the club[4]. This adds another layer of competition to the race for BVB's presidency, with Watzke's potential candidacy being a significant factor.
In a recent interview with "Kicker", Hellmann offered advice for BVB, although the content of this advice was not specified[5]. It is clear, however, that Hellmann's advice was given in response to Watzke's potential run for president at BVB[5].
Hellmann has also been nominated for a seat on the DFL presidency by his own club, Eintracht Frankfurt[6]. Despite this, he suggested that if Watzke were not to become president of BVB, it would not be a competitive disadvantage for the sporting competitors in the league[6]. Hellmann considers Watzke a blessing for German football due to his strong and prominent status[7].
In conclusion, the future of German football is shaping up to be an exciting one, with key figures like Aki Watzke playing significant roles. The upcoming DFL general assembly in Berlin will be a crucial event, as it will determine the leadership of the league for the coming years.
Despite Aki Watzke's potential departure from his operational role at Borussia Dortmund by the end of 2025, his influence in sports and beyond has led some to believe he could be an asset for the German Football League (DFL) as their president. In a recent interview, Axel Hellmann, board spokesman for Eintracht Frankfurt, offered advice for BVB, which was likely in response to Watzke's potential run for BVB's presidency.
