Even the most diehard fans have had that one rival player they quietly admired. No jersey purchases. No public praise. But deep down…there was some respect.
Over the years, Borussia Dortmund has produced icons, cult heroes, and even a few future legends who later made controversial moves elsewhere. Who were some of the BVB players you might have secretly admired over the years? Check out a few examples.
- Marco Reus: If there’s one player who embodied loyalty in the modern era, it was Reus. Supremely talented, endlessly unlucky with injuries, and fiercely devoted to Dortmund. There was something admirable about a player who stayed when he could have left for Europe’s superpowers in his prime. On his day, he was electric — glide past a defender, curl one into the top corner, and make it look effortless. Even rivals had to admit: football was better when Reus was healthy.
- Robert Lewandowski: Before becoming a legend at Bayern Munich, Lewandowski was already a clinical assassin in Borussia Dortmund yellow. The four-goal demolition of Real Madrid in 2013 remains one of the greatest Champions League performances ever. Even before his controversial free transfer, you could see the machine-like efficiency: perfect positioning, ruthless finishing, relentless work rate. It was admiration mixed with fear — the worst kind.
- Mats Hummels: Elegant center-backs are rare. Hummels made defending look intellectual. His anticipation, composure on the ball, and long-range passing gave Borussia Dortmund’s buildup structure and confidence. Ironically, given his Bayern Munich roots, his peak years at BVB made him particularly fascinating. There’s always appreciation for defenders who can read the game two steps ahead.
- Mario Götze: Before the transfer saga and the World Cup final goal, Götze was the golden boy of German football. At Borussia Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp, he was silky, intelligent, and devastating between the lines. The movement, the balance, the creativity — it felt like watching the future unfold. Even knowing the rivalry, it was hard not to enjoy how effortlessly he operated in tight spaces.
- İlkay Gündoğan: The pulse of Klopp’s high-octane side. Gündoğan blended technical control with tactical intelligence. He could slow a match down (sometimed way too much for this writer’s liking), then suddenly slice open a defense with a vertical pass. His 2013 Champions League final performance was particularly impressive — composed, brave, and technically superb. He always felt like the glue holding everything together.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Pure chaos. Blistering pace, outrageous celebrations, and goals in bunches. Aubameyang wasn’t just fast — he was terrifyingly decisive in transition. Dortmund’s counterattacks during his prime were built around that acceleration. Even rival fans had to admire the spectacle. When he was through on goal, you already knew how it would end.
- Erling Haaland: The Norwegian Nightmare, Haaland was a complete and utter menace. The big striker could barrel through, dance around, or simply leap over the opposition and impose his will on just about every other player in the league. Haaland’s stay with BVB was not particularly long, but damn, was it fun to watch.
- Jude Bellingham: It felt unfair how mature he looked at 18. Bellingham carried himself like a captain before he was old enough to rent a car in some countries. Leadership, defensive bite, late runs into the box — he had everything. Watching him dominate Bundesliga midfields as a teenager forced even skeptics to acknowledge something special was happening.
- Roman Weidenfeller: Goalkeepers rarely get secret-favorite status, but Weidenfeller earned it. He wasn’t flashy — he was reliable. Big-game presence, strong positioning, and the type of keeper who frustrated elite strikers on European nights. There’s always respect for a player who becomes synonymous with an era.
- Łukasz Piszczek: Not the headline star, but incredibly consistent. Piszczek represented the hardworking backbone of Dortmund’s golden years. Solid defensively, capable going forward, and tactically disciplined. Every great team needs players like him — dependable, adaptable, quietly excellent.
Rivalries thrive on passion, but football appreciation transcends colors. Borussia Dortmund’s best
teams under Klopp were thrilling, emotional, and fearless. Secretly admiring certain players doesn’t weaken loyalty — it deepens understanding of the game.
Sometimes respect is earned even when we do not want it to be.
So, which Dortmund player were you secretly a fan of?
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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