What Happened to Borussia Mönchengladbach?

Borussia Mönchengladbach, affectionately known as 'Die Fohlen' (The Foals), boasts a rich history in German football, marked by a 'golden decade' in the 1970s where they secured five Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Cups. However, the club has faced significant challenges in recent years, struggling to consistently compete at the top of the Bundesliga. The departure of key figures, such as coach Marco Rose in 2021, initiated a period of instability that the club has since been working to overcome.

The 2024-2025 season saw some improvement under manager Gerardo Seoane, with the team finishing 10th in the Bundesliga, a step up from previous struggles. Despite ambitions for European qualification, their push fell short in the final weeks. The summer of 2025 brought significant squad changes, with key players like Ko Itakura and Alassane Plea departing, while new talents such as Shuto Machino, Jens Castrop, and Kevin Diks were brought in. Notably, American midfielder Giovanni Reyna also joined Gladbach from Dortmund in August 2025.

The start of the 2025-2026 season proved particularly difficult. After a winless streak stretching across two seasons and a heavy 0-4 home loss to Werder Bremen, Gerardo Seoane was dismissed in September 2025. Eugen Polanski, a former Gladbach player and reserves coach, initially took over on an interim basis. Despite a slow start, Polanski's tactical approach, characterized by vertical play, high intensity, and counter-attacks, began to show promise, particularly in crucial phases of the relegation battle. His efforts led to his permanent appointment as head coach in November 2025, with a contract running until June 2028.

Under Polanski, Gladbach managed to stabilize their performance, finishing the 2025-2026 Bundesliga season in 12th place, nine points clear of the relegation zone. Haris Tabaković emerged as the team's top scorer in the league with 13 goals. The club also reached the Round of 16 in the DFB-Pokal. Following a thorough 'sporting evaluation,' the club's head of sport, Rouven Schröder, confirmed in May 2026 that Polanski would continue as head coach for the 2026-2027 season, with some adjustments to the coaching staff and playing squad anticipated.

As of August 2026, Borussia Mönchengladbach is in its pre-season preparations, including a training camp at Tegernsee. The squad has seen further changes, with Giovanni Reyna moving to Strasbourg and Tomas Cvancara joining Celtic in January 2026. New signing Isac Lidberg, a striker from Darmstadt, has joined, fulfilling a long-held dream of playing in the Bundesliga. However, the team has been hit by an injury to key midfielder Jens Castrop, who dislocated his shoulder during a friendly and requires surgery, ruling him out for several months. Other players like Zento Uno and Yukhym Konoplya are also managing muscular issues. The club is focused on overcoming these setbacks and building a competitive team for the upcoming Bundesliga and DFB Cup campaigns, starting with an away match against Schott Mainz in the DFB Cup.