​When Lars Ricken moved from TSC Eintracht to Borussia Dortmund during the summer of the 1990 World Cup—an event that coincided with Andreas Brehme delivering the decisive goal in Rome to crown Germany champions—the high schooler had just celebrated his 14th birthday. Born in Eving and raised as a lifelong Black and Yellow supporter, his path seemed almost preordained: arrive with natural talent, score goals, win titles, and remain loyal to the club. At seventeen, he earned a place in the professional squad in 1993, quickly establishing himself as the player for the crucial moments. He became known for clutch tallies, such as the 3–1 strike in the UEFA Cup on St. Nicholas Day in 1994 against Deportivo La Coruña, and he celebrated three German championships with Dortmund (1995, 1996, 2002).
Ricken’s career was defined by a penchant for big moments. He lined up 69 goals in 407 professional appearances for Dortmund, and the most consequential of them all came on May 28, 1997, in the UEFA Champions League final against Juventus. His deft chip shot sealed a 3–1 victory, a strike later voted Dortmund’s “Goal of the Century.” Internationally, he represented Germany at the 2002 World Cup, finishing as a runner-up.
His contributions to Dortmund extended beyond his playing days. On July 1, 2008, he was appointed as the club’s youth development coordinator, and on January 1, 2021, he was elevated to director of the youth academy, a position from which he helped sculpt what would become the most successful youth system in German football. Under his leadership, seven of Dortmund’s sixteen German championships in the A and B youth divisions were achieved, and hundreds of promising youngsters trained at Borussia Dortmund progressed to Germany’s top three leagues or even to leading leagues abroad. Reflecting on his impact, Ricken has often stated that his role in nurturing youth talent generated significant value, though he acknowledges that his greatest emotional fulfillment remains rooted in his achievements as a player, which peaked with the 1997 Champions League performance.
In the summer of 2024, Lars Ricken reached the pinnacle of leadership within BVB as Managing Director of Sports, overseeing professional football among his responsibilities. The Dortmund native is a family man, a father of three, spending his birthday with loved ones before turning his attention to the upcoming season, which kicks off with the first team’s training camp next week. This transition marks another chapter in a career that began in earnest in Dortmund’s youth ranks and culminated in a lasting influence on the club’s structure, culture, and enduring success.