Year in Review: A successful end to the season and the end of an era

As we look back on 2023, we take a closer look at the months of May and June. In addition to a successful end to the Bundesliga season in sporting terms, these months were marked by farewells and a change of manager.

On the pitch

In a strong end to the season, the Foals picked up seven points in their last four matches. They kicked off May with a 2-0 victory over VfL Bochum, before suffering a 5-2 defeat away to BVB. The team showed good character in Leverkusen, coming back from 2-0 down to earn a draw. Borussia also won their final game of the season, beating FC Augsburg 2-0 at home. With a total of 43 points, Gladbach ended up in tenth place in the standings for the 2022/23 Bundesliga season.

STANDOUT MOMENT

In March, captain Lars Stindl announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. After eight years playing in a VfL jersey, Stindl made the decision to move back to his boyhood club Karlsruher SC. On the final Bundesliga matchday, “Capitano” ran out in front of a home crowd for the very last time. There was fan choreography in honour of Stindl, a standing ovation when he was brought off, as well as long periods of chanting his name and special farewell jerseys. Our former captain was clearly moved by these gestures; he savoured these final moments and thanked the fans with applause. “That was very emotional and is definitely one of the highlights of my entire life. It was a really special day that I’ll never forget,” said the 35-year-old. “I have absolutely loved playing for Borussia and the years that I’ve spent in Gladbach were the best and most intense years of my life. From now on, I’m no longer a Borussia Mönchengladbach player, but just a massive Borussia fan.”

Off the pitch

In addition to Lars Stindl, Borussia also bid farewell to Marcus Thuram, Ramy Bensebaini and Jordan Beyer. Daniel Farke’s stint as Borussia head coach also came to an end after just one season.
Gladbach broke their all-time average home attendance record in the 2022/23 season. On average, there were 52,438 fans for the Bundesliga fixtures at BORUSSIA-PARK, thereby surpassing the 2013/14 record of 52,334 fans on average.
Lars Stindl was voted “Player of the season” by the fans. He won the vote with a landslide majority ahead of his teammates Jonas Hofmann, Ko Itakura and Marcus Thuram.
Borussia signed Lukas Ullrich from Hertha BSC. The 19-year-old signed a contract until summer 2027. VfL also signed Grant-Leon Ranos, Robin Hack and Fabio Chiarodia, with all three signing contracts lasting until summer 2027.
After Julian Weigl’s loan spell at Gladbach during the 2022/23 season, his move was made permanent. The midfielder signed a contract lasting until summer 2028. In addition to that, up-and-coming goalkeeper Max Brüll and Belgian youth player Ibrahim Digberekou both signed their first professional contracts for the club.
Borussia and youth co-sponsor Porsche AG agreed to extend their partnership until 2026.
After the last Bundesliga match, the Foals embarked on a three-day end-of-season tour. In addition to two friendly matches against FC Oberneuland and Hallescher FC, the program included a visit to the Bergen-Belsen memorial and a fan meeting in Aken.
The promotion play-off against SV Elversberg marked the first time that the women’s first team played a match at BORUSSIA-PARK. Borussia’s women won both the first and second legs and thus deservedly advanced to the second division. Coach Jonas Spengler’s team had already secured the regional league championship prior to this.
Thanks to a 6-5 win on penalties over Fortuna Düsseldorf in the final, Borussia U19s won the Lower Rhein cup. Gladbach U17s also won the cup with a thumping 5-0 victory over KFC Uerdingen in the final.
At the start of July, Gerardo Seoane was announced as the Foals’ new head coach. The Swiss signed a three-year contract. Along with him came assistant coach Patrick Schnarwiler and Nicolas Dyon (athletics coach). Assistant coach Guido Streichsbier, who came to Borussia from the Germany team, completed Gladbach’s new coaching team ahead of preseason, which began on 9th July.
Nils Schmadtke was appointed as sporting director, a newly introduced role at the club. Dr. Philipp Schützendorf, who was formerly head of analysis, took over as head of development, where he would be responsible for talent development as well as video and data analysis.
The Foals opened their fourth Borussia Academy worldwide in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. In cooperation with local schools, the Foals offer football training sessions for girls and boys aged three to 16.
In cooperation with the local government, the Borussia foundation financed a new astroturf pitch in the Scheulenstraße in Rheydt. The Borussia foundation put forward 40,000 euros towards the project, which aimed to promote social and sports-related measures to integrate children and young people into society.

QUOTE:

Gerardo Seoane at his presentation as the new head coach of Borussia: “Basically, I want to see high levels of activity and a team that plays with courage throughout the game with and without the ball – an honest brand of football. I don’t want us to be too hesitant; I want us to try lots of things out and then also get the result that we want. Borussia is also a club that works with young players and develops them, so that they’ve got the chance to establish themselves in the first team. That also means that players who perform will eventually take the next step. I am ready to go down this path.”