Crisis at Borussia Mönchengladbach: Roland Virkus Steps Down as Sporting Director

Major changes have taken place at German football club Borussia Mönchengladbach: after more than three decades of service, Roland Virkus has stepped down from his role as sporting director. He had been part of the club since 1990 and took on the leadership position in February 2022, during a difficult period for the team.

Virkus explained that his decision was made in the best interests of the club: “I have always said that Borussia comes above everything else. That’s why I made this decision.” The management thanked him for his decades of dedication and contribution, noting that it was not an easy step for him.

His departure also carries special significance for Armenian fans. Virkus was the one who initiated the transfer of Armenian striker Grant-Leon Ranos from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. In the last Bundesliga round against Eintracht, Ranos scored his first goal in the German championship, although his team lost in a spectacular 4–6 match.

Now Borussia’s management must rethink the club’s sporting strategy and decide who will lead the way forward. In Mönchengladbach, it is acknowledged that the team needs new energy and a fresh impulse to move ahead.

It should be recalled that the club had earlier dismissed head coach Gerardo Seoane, with youth team coach Eugen Polanski currently in charge.

After five matchdays, Borussia Mönchengladbach sits in last place in the Bundesliga with just two points.