Episode 63: A 23/24 Bundesliga preview, and a look at the challenges for the DFB ahead, with coach Holger Osieck (Germany assistant manager 1987-90, VfL Bochum, Olympique Marseilles, Fernebahce):

Thank you for your interest in the BvB London fan community podcast as every week the focus of the show will be on exploring a facet of football life with a focus on Borussia Dortmund by talking to experts, fans, and players and coaches. 

People, including journalists, who make up the football world including decision makers and who know the football world and the world of BVB well.

On today's show, our guest today is Holger Osieck. A former midfielder and football coach, Holger is best known for being the assistant to Franz Beckenbauer, then coach of the DFB team between 1987-90. The Germany team that went on to win the Italia 1990 FIFA World Cup.  Holger was in fact the manager as 'Der Kaiser' (Beckenbauer) did not hold the coaching badge at the time. 

Holger Osieck, who was also technical director of FIFA, is a son of the Ruhrgebiet, he grew up in Duisburg, just 50km from Dortmund. As a player Holger played as a striker, his former clubs include RW Oberhausen, 1 FC Bocholt, 1 FC Mulheim and the Vancouver Whitecaps.  

In Holger's career as a coach his career took him from the national teams of Canada to Australia, VFL Bochum, Olympique Marseilles, Fenerbahce, Kocaelispor and the Urawa Diamonds (Japan). 

He led under dogs Kocaelispor to the Turkish Cup in 1997, and the Urawa Diamonds to the win of the AFC Asian Champions League in 2007, he also led Canada to the win of the CONCAF Gold Cup.

Osieck is now a TV pundit and lives in the Saarland region of Germany.  

On today's show, we look at the Bundesliga season 23/24 ahead, make an attempt at some predictions ahead for the top of the Bundesliga and the relegation battle. We also look at the impact of some of the big transfers to the league. As a former national team assistant coach of Germany we also look at the challenges of the national team ahead of the European Championships 2024. 

1. First steps in football growing up in Duisburg and own playing career.  

2. Club life, life as a coach with VFL Bochum, Fenerbahce and Olympique Marseilles, and the highlight of winning the Asian Champions League in Japan.  

3. Appointment to the DFB job and highlights of the Germany national team including the World Cup in Italy. 

4. What might be the challenges of the DFB at this time ahead of the 2024 European Championship?

5. Title contenders, how good will the 'Schwarz-Gelben' including Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer, Ramy Bensebaini be in the season ahead?

6. What difference Harry Kane will make for Bayern Munich? What should be the BVB's response? Will Munich romp to the title or can Dortmund disrupt the party? 

7. A look at some of the transfers to the league including Jae Kim to Bayern, Lois Openda to RB Leipzig, Castello Lukeba to RB Leipzig, Granit Khaka and Victor Boniface to Bayer 04, Naby Keita to Werder.  

8. Who else will be in the 'mix' for the European places? How good can Eintracht actually get?  Will Wolfsburg keep up the ante? Are Gladbach on the way up or down? 

09. The relegation fight can Bochum survive? What can Heidenheim actually achieve in their first season? Can former BVB II coach Enno Maasen keep Augsburg up? Will Koeln get sucked in or are they 'on the up'? Who else might be in the 'dog fight'?

10.  Memories of the Westfalenstadion and Borussia Dortmund as a player and a coach. 

Programme notes: There is no social media for Holger Osieck, if you want to write to us at: Borussiadortmundfanclublondon@Gmail.com we will pass on any autograph requests of fan post. The book referred to at 22:20 is 'Das Reboot' by Raphael Honigstein. The biography of Franz Beckenbauer that is mentioned is: The seven lives of Der Kaiser by Ulrich Heese. 

We hope you enjoy the show, remember to send us your comments, share the show with friends and to apply for tickets contact the club via the website which is borussiadortmundlondon.co.uk or join the London BvB community at our online group at Facebook.com/borussiadortmundfanclubengland.

During the season you can also come to watch a game at our meet-up Stammtisch at the Temperance bar, on Fulham High Street in central London.

 

All rights reserved Borussia Dortmund London Ltd 2023.