BVB says goodbye to outgoing President Reinhard Rauball

Before the home game against VfL Bochum, Borussia Dortmund gave an emotional farewell to its long-time president Reinhard Rauball. The 75-year-old will not be running again at the annual general meeting on November 20 after a total of 23 years in office. His successor is to be his previous deputy, Reinhold Lunow.

The visibly touched Rauball received a bouquet of flowers from managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, the spectators applauded standing and called Rauball’s name. “It was a very, very great honor for me to have worked for Borussia Dortmund,” said Rauball, wishing the club “all the best for the future.”

He was “proud to be president of this great club every minute of my tenure. For 23 years I have filled this office with a lot of passion,” Rauball said in his farewell announcement. Rauball cited the length of his tenure and his advanced age as reasons for his resignation.

Rauball was elected BVB President for the third time in 2004. During his first term of office from 1979 to 1982, the then 32-year-old lawyer went down in history as the youngest president of a Bundesliga soccer club. His second term of office between 1984 and 1986 was characterized by an economic crisis at BVB, which, not least thanks to Rauball, was successfully overcome became.

During Rauball’s third term as president, Borussia Dortmund won two championships, lifted the DFB Cup three times and reached the 2013 Champions League final.