Which managers could replace Edin Terzic at Borussia Dortmund?

Which managers could replace Edin Terzic at Borussia Dortmund?

Lifelong Borussia Dortmund fan Edin Terzic has been manager of his boyhood club for over 18 months now.

This is his second spell as boss; his first came in an interim role from December 2020 to June 2021.

In that first stint, Terzic led the club to DFB-Pokal glory and the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, during his current tenure as gaffer, BVB were on the verge of a first Bundesliga title in 11 years.

The 41-year-old has assembled a team full of great domestic talent and restored some belief at Signal Iduna Park last term.

But despite going unbeaten in the first 11 domestic matches of the season and topping the Champions League group, things aren’t looking quite so rosey for the German.

Dortmund are currently sixth in the league, 15 points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

The club are winless in their last six games across all competitions and the Yellow Wall aren’t happy with what they’re seeing.

Tempers appear to be flaring off the pitch too.

There have already been reports of unrest for some players and reports of disagreement between Terzic and the club’s bosses.

While Terzic may remain in the hot seat for now, it appears quite clear that he is currently on thin ice.

Here is a list of candidates who could replace him in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Elite managers such as Antonio Conte and Hansi Flick are available but may be out of reach for ‘die Schwarzgelben’ at this time, along with up and coming coaches such as Bologna’s Thiago Motta and Roberto de Zerbi, who are garnering acclaim across the continent.

These names may be a little more realistic for Sebastian Kehl and Co.

Borussia Dortmund CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke
Borussia Dortmund CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke (Flickr)

Nuri Sahin

The biggest news story for ‘die Borussen’ during the winter break so far has seen two club heroes return to aid Terzic in the dugout.

Two fine servants of the club during the iconic Jürgen Klopp era, Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin, have been welcomed back to North Rhine-Westphalia as assistant managers.

Bender had previously been an assistant manager for Germany’s under-17 side.

Sahin, meanwhile, has left his post as manager of Turkish Süper Lig side Antalyaspor.

The Germany-born Turkish international is just 35 and is one of the finest products of the Black and Yellows’ academy, having joined aged 13.

An intelligent midfielder, Sahin appeared 274 times for Borussia Dortmund and has attained a UEFA A licence in coaching.

He had been impressing in Antalya; the former Real Madrid and Liverpool man left the club in eighth place – five points off the top five.

With an average points per game record of 1.49 across 92 matches, Sahin is seen as a manager with a lot of potential.

Although he’s still unproven, it remains a very much concrete possibility that Nuri Sahin could one day manage the club he loves.

His latest move as assistant manager only increases that likelihood. If Terzic does leave and interim/caretaker responsibilities lie with Sahin, who knows where this could go?

Roger Schmidt

Born in the town of Kierspe, around 30 miles south of Dortmund, Benfica’s Roger Schmidt may be a prime candidate.

Schmidt won the double with RB Salzburg in the 2013-14 season before overseeing a three year stay with Bayer Leverkusen.

In his time at the BayArena, the 56-year-old guided the club to consecutive top four finishes and took them into the Champions League knockouts in 2015.

But after a disappointing 2016-17 campaign, he was relieved of his duties.

Since then, the German has won two cups: one in China with Beijing Guoan and the other with PSV in 2022.

Roger Schmidt

During his time in the Netherlands, Schmidt helped current Borusse Donyell Malen play his best football and lifted the Johan Cruyff Shield.

His PSV side also reached the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals and came within two points of becoming Eredivisie champions.

Schmidt was unfortunate to leave Eindhoven at the end of his contract but is loving life in Lisbon with Benfica.

He has overseen just nine losses in 81 games, winning the club’s first league title in four years while helping them to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Schmidt’s stocks are at an all-time high and with Benfica involved in an intense title race, it may be hard to prise the German away.

But bringing Roger Schmidt back to North Rhine-Westphalia could be a shrewd move.

Arne Slot

Such has been the case with many clubs across Europe’s top divisions, BVB may also turn their attentions to Feyenoord’s Arne Slot.

The 45-year-old has only been in management for less than five years but the work he has done thus far in the Netherlands makes him quite the prospect.

Slot managed AZ Alkmaar for a year and a half and his record of 2.15 points per game stands as the highest of any coach in the club’s history.

During his two years so far at Feyenoord, the Dutchman has led the club to a Conference League final and an Eredivisie title.

Currently boasting a win percentage of over 63%, it’s no surprise why many top clubs have looked at him.

Last season, his side lost just twice all year, winning the league by seven points.

This term, Slot’s side are trailing a flawless PSV side 16 games in.

Already with a Dutch title to his name, Slot may be willing to take the next step in his managerial career to a major European league.

His 4-3-3 system could be implemented at Signal Iduna Park but with his contract not set to expire until 2026, it may take a lot to bring Slot to Dortmund.

Julen Lopetegui

Former Spain and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui could also be an option for ‘die Schwarzgelben’.

Despite having a goalkeeping career that didn’t yield much to write home about, the 57-year-old has built up quite a list of former employers.

After mustering up a combined six league appearances for Real and Barcelona, Lopetegui spent over a decade managing Spain’s youth sides, winning multiple European Championships at different age levels.

The Spaniard achieved a win percentage of almost 68% at Porto in an ultimately unsuccessful 18-month tenure.

But he didn’t taste defeat in 20 matches as Spain boss, achieving a 70% win rate.

Hopes were high for his La Roja side ahead of the 2018 World Cup but the announcement of his move to Real for the following season meant the Spanish FA relieved Lopetegui of his duties.

Things didn’t work out for the former Rayo Vallecano ‘keeper at the Bernabeu, but a move to Sevilla saw his stocks rise.

After successive sixth and seventh place finishes, their new gaffer led the club to three straight top four finishes and a Europa League title.

Last term, after a tough start in Seville, Lopetegui tried his hand in the Premier League.

Arriving when Wolves were rock bottom, he led the West Midlands club to a 13th place finish but left in the summer with concerns over the backing of his board.

While that may also be an issue at Signal Iduna Park, Lopetegui is perhaps a good fit for the Bundesliga due to his largely attacking play style.

Currently unemployed, a deal would be fairly straightforward to negotiate.

Will Still

A man who has been the subject of much social media attention, Will Still may also be on Kehl and Watzke’s shortlist if Terzic was to depart.

The Anglo-Belgian did plenty of video analysis work in the Belgian lower leagues before becoming an assistant manager.

Still worked in this role for both Standard Liege and Stade Reims, before he became the French side’s permanent manager in October 2022.

At just 31 years old, he has accumulated 1.56 points per game in 48 games as Reims boss.

Still oversaw an unbeaten streak of 16 Ligue 1 matches upon his appointment, not tasting defeat until March last year.

Reims eventually finished in 11th place, with Still yet to attain his pro licence.

As the fabled social media posts go, Reims were reportedly fined €22,000 every match for this reason.

Admittedly, it seems very unlikely that a top club like BVB would go in for a man so inexperienced.

But did you know that Will Still led Reims to an unbeaten run as the youngest manager in Europe’s top five leagues and that the club are fined every time they play as he doesn’t have his UEFA pro licence?

I thought you might.

Overview

Given the current state of affairs at Borussia Dortmund, it would be quite surprising if Edin Terzic is still in charge come next summer.

Since Jürgen Klopp’s departure in 2015, BVB have seldom got their managerial appointments right.

There is currently a lack of experienced, proven winning managers available.

If Dortmund are to dismiss Terzic, it appears as though they will have to take something of a risk with their next appointment.

As always, the Yellow Wall will get behind their team for the remainder of the campaign.

Terzic is one of them. Fans are so desperate for him to succeed.

There’s a long way to go this season. Anything could happen.

But 2024 will certainly be an interesting year. It’s make or break for Terzic.

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