Borussia Dortmund Youth Sector is the youth set-up of Borussia Dortmund. The club operates the system for boys from the age of nine upwards and a total of 15 youth teams. Home games are staged at the club's training ground Hohenbuschei.
Lars Ricken, a former Dortmund player and German international, has been the youth coordinator since 2008.[1]
The youth team has educated many players who have become regulars in the Bundesliga and the Germany national football team, such as Eike Immel, Lars Ricken and the current club Director for Sport Michael Zorc. Most recent graduates include first team regulars Marco Reus, Nuri Şahin and Marcel Schmelzer. The club has notably produced World Cup champions Mario Götze and Kevin Großkreutz.
The club recruits young players and teach them football skills required to play at that club's standard. The young apprentices offered the chance to train in close proximity to the professional players.
The club launched partnerships with United States sides Cincinnati United and La Roca Futbol Club. The cooperation will include training philosophies and drills for their coaches and annual training camps with Dortmund coaching staff.[2]
The Evonik-Fußballschule des BVB was opened in July 2011 to provide mainstream education for the youth players who do not reside in the Dortmund area.[3]
In 2014, a new dormitory for young players from outside of Dortmund was opened. It houses the young sportsmen who are trained to become a part of the club's professional teams.[4]
The team currently competes in the Under 19 Bundesliga and the UEFA Youth League. It also participates in the DFB-Junioren-Vereinspokal und the Under 19 Westphalian Cup. Former Under 17 head coach Benjamin Hoffmann has been the head coach since September 2016.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
The team currently competes in the Under 17 Bundesliga and the Under 17 Westphalian Cup. Sebastian Geppert has been the head coach since September 2016.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
This is a list of former Borussia Dortmund youth graduates with at least one appearance for a youth setup who have gone on to represent their country at full international level.
First awarded in 2005, the Fritz Walter Medal is a series of annual awards given by the German Football Association to German youth footballers. The following youth graduates have won the medal.
^ 1: Tyrała began his career with the Germany national youth football team. Later he switched to Poland.