by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the UEFA Champions League semis against Paris SG, Dortmund's legend Lars Ricken has come to the fore.
Neither the 47-year-old nor Borussia Dortmund's fans have forgotten about the magic evening on May 28, 1997.
Substituted in the 70th minute, the striker scored one of the Champions League's unforgotten goals lifting the ball into the net over Juve keeper Angelo Peruzzi only 16 seconds after turning up on the pitch.
Ricken's goal not only secured the Black and Yellow's victory but turned him into one of the club's icons ever since.
That time spirits seemed to come to life again after the former attacker and head of the talent department was appointed as the club's next CEO as successor of departing Hans-Joachim Watzke.
This week the club announcement triggered widespread attention following the actions to design the leaderboard's future with Ricken as the BVB's new boss from May 1st on.
May 1 now not only stands for Ricken's inauguration but the first leg against Paris is scheduled with the newly promoted official sitting on the stands being observed by TV cameras.
The latest sportive upswing in the national league and having beaten the Spanish "knock-out monster" Atletico (coach Edin Terzic) made optimism grow to reach the final for the first time after 2013.
Eliminating the French favorites might come near the achievement of 1997 but seems far from impossible and a perfect start for Ricken.
Appointing Ricken and not choosing the expected promotion of sporting director Sebastian Kehl might be a surprise at first sight. Behind the scenes, it secures the influence of departing CEO Watzke, who like Uli Hoeness in Munich intends to keep close contact.
Former German international and club advisor Matthias Sammer is said to be a close companion of Ricken and Watzke.
Both might help to support a satisfying start for Ricken and the club's intention to return to national glory after it failed to end up first in the league over the past 12 years.
The prospect of the German league harvesting a fifth Champions League qualification sport due to the advanced position in international rankings has eased the pressure for Dortmund.
The club, stuck in a tight race against RB Leipzig for the league's fourth position, can be more or less sure to be part of the 2024/25 Champions League campaign.
The competition's opulent revenues are a must as the high-class squad needs to be covered financially.
Ricken's start is grounding on a solid base despite the new strong man having to prove his administrative skills.
While Ricken is stepping on a new level of his career when the BVB is crossing swords with Paris, the collaboration with Kehl might end sooner than expected as media reports suggest. No matter how things develop, for the moment the club's Champions League high flies have come to light again in the person of Lars Ricken. ■
