News Focus
- Marcel Schmelzer departs Borussia Dortmund following a 20-year stay at the club
- The 38-year-old leaves his role with the U23 squad to take a family break
- During his playing days, he won two Bundesliga titles and three DFB-Pokal trophies
- Borussia Dortmund II currently sit fourth in the Regionalliga West table
- The former left-back has not confirmed if he will return to coaching duties
Marcel Schmelzer has brought his long association with Borussia Dortmund to a close. The 38-year-old has stepped away from his position with the club’s U23 side after serving the German giants for over two decades.
The former defender says he requires time away from the game to concentrate on personal matters. “I planned this personally for a long time,” he explained to Ruhr Nachrichten. “Those in charge knew that I would take a break after my contract ended to look after my family. That is exactly my priority now.”
Schmelzer spent his entire playing career at Signal Iduna Park. He made 367 appearances for the senior team and lifted the Bundesliga trophy in consecutive years during 2011 and 2012. He also secured the DFB-Pokal three times with the Black and Yellows.
Following retirement, he moved into coaching and initially joined the U17 set-up. He received a promotion to the U23 team in 2024, where he worked alongside head coach Daniel Rios in Germany’s fourth tier.
The club organised a farewell presentation for Schmelzer and physiotherapist Daniel Zolinski ahead of the U23s’ final home fixture against Köln, which finished 1-1. The reserve side will conclude their campaign with an away match at SC Wiedenbrück.
Borussia Dortmund II currently occupy fourth place in the Regionalliga West standings. They are level on points with Schalke II in third and Borussia Mönchengladbach II in fifth. Several young talents from the squad, including Luca Reggiani, Filippo Mane, and Samuele Inácio, have featured for the first team this term.
Schmelzer has not indicated how long his break will last or whether he plans to resume his coaching career at the club. Reports suggest he continues to work towards completing his UEFA A coaching licence.