Hans-Joachim Watzke, CEO of German giants Borussia Dortmund has announced that he will be stepping down from his post as Dortmund's Chief Executive Officer.

The 64-year-old will vacate his position when his contract with the club runs out in the summer of 2025.

Apart from being Dortmund's CEO, Watzke holds multiple positions of power, namely the vice-president of the German Football Association (DFB), a post he assumed in 2021, chairman of the supervisory board of the German Football League (DFL), and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, a post he's held since 2023.

At the time of his stepping down, Watzke will complete 2 decades of association with the club as the CEO. He started his career with Dortmund in 2001 as the treasurer of the club, and rose up the ranks gradually until he became CEO in 2005.

Stepping down was always something that he had intended to do, with him saying that he had almost quit in 2022, but the Covid pandemic forced him to prolong his stay with the club.

His time as CEO saw the club win consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12, make the Champions League finals in 2013. They also won 3 DFB Pokals and 3 German Super Cups.

Speaking about his impending exit, Watzke said, "“I will no longer renew my contract. I will be stepping down from management in the fall of next year.

“My 20th anniversary is next year. I had the feeling it was the right time.

“I wanted to be in charge of my own future. Very grateful to BVB to have had that privilege and responsibility."

"One day I will be just a fan and look forward to being happy when BVB win and don’t get up with stomach pains before a game.”

It remains to be seen what Dortmund plan on doing as far as his succession is concerned, but for now both Watzke and the club will look to maximize the window of success from now till 2025.

Dortmund currently find themselves in 5th place, 15 points away from leaders Leverkusen and 6 points off the top 4 in the Bundesliga.