BVB: Timo Boll becomes brand ambassador for Borussia Dortmund

Table tennis icon Timo Boll will become a brand ambassador for Borussia Dortmund. The club and the seven-time Olympic athlete announced this on the sidelines of BVB's season opening before the match against Juventus Turin.

The focus of his work will primarily be on developing the Asian market. "Football is very, very popular in China, but I believe BVB can take it up a notch, and I'll do my best there," said Boll, who ended his playing career just a few months ago and enjoys cult status in Asia.

The 44-year-old is an avowed fan of the Black and Yellows. In an interview with Borussia Dortmund at the end of March, he emphasized how much he would be attracted to a position at his favorite club. "I would like to immerse myself in the world of football, do an internship. BVB is my favorite club, along with the other Borussia from Düsseldorf. I played there for 17 years; it became my second home," Boll said at the time.

"I've always had a BVB sticker in my locker," said Boll in the sold-out stadium in Dortmund. At his own request, he will, among other things, complete a multi-week internship at BVB, during which he will get to know the club and his various work areas at home and abroad even better.

BVB has been relying on former athletes as brand ambassadors for years. However, so far, these have exclusively been former club icons from the world of football. Currently, Karl-Heinz Riedle, Jörg Heinrich, Roman Weidenfeller, and Patrick Owomoyela serve in this role for Dortmund.

RND/dpa