German soccer coach Edin Terzic had a forgotten spell in the Premier League before leading Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final.
Mats Hummels scored the only goal at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday as Borussia Dortmund beat PSG 1-0 that night and 2-0 on aggregate, to reach the final at Wembley on June 1.
For Terzic, 41, next month’s final will be a welcome return to England, where he previously worked in a role that casual observers might have overlooked.
Terzic worked as Slaven Bilic’s assistant coach at Besiktas from 2013 to 2015, and when the Croatian manager joined West Ham in June 2015, the German followed him to London, when the Hammers were still at Upton Park.
He spent two years as an assistant at West Ham, during which time they moved to the London Stadium, but left the club when Bilic was sacked as head coach in November 2017, along with fellow assistant coaches Nikola Jurcevic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak. .
Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic had a job in the Premier League that many may have forgotten
The German coach spent two years as Slaven Bilic’s assistant coach at West Ham
Terzic (second row from front, 12th from left) and the wider West Ham team at Upton Park in 2015
He continued his studies in England, as Terzic obtained his UEFA Pro license the following year. on an 18-month course delivered by the FAalongside Graham Potter, who later managed Chelsea, as well as former professional players Nemanja Vidic, David James and Nicky Butt.
terzic worked as an explorer and assistant coach in the Borussia Dortmund youth academy between 2010 and 2013, and returned to the club in 2018.
He has worked as a coach, interim coach and technical director at Dortmund since rejoining, before being reappointed coach for the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign.
Last season, they lost the league title to Bayern Munich on goal difference, after a surprise draw at home to Mainz on the final matchday.
This season, they currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga standings and could face Bayern in the Champions League final in June if their German rivals beat Real Madrid in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
It is the first time that Borussia Dortmund has reached the final of the Champions League since 2013, when they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich, in a match also played at Wembley.
Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels scored the only goal of the game in the second leg victory.
Terzic has played multiple roles at Dortmund, before leading them to the Champions League final.
Following Tuesday’s semi-final success, Terzic said he was “proud” of his players, adding: “If I have to choose one word, it’s a proud moment for us, my staff, my team, the club.” The dream is not over yet. Is incredible. “It was an exceptional team performance.”
Terzic can hope the Hammers’ European fortunes rub off on Dortmund after West Ham’s success in the UEFA Europa Conference League final last year.
