Edin Terzic: Dortmund's master and the art of creating superstars.

Edin Terzic is remembered not only for a German Cup victory and a journey to the Champions League final, but also for how he transformed Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Jadon Sancho into the best versions of themselves. At 42, his path from assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham to head coach at Borussia Dortmund demonstrates a modern, people-centered manager who knows how to unlock potential.

Dortmund's legacy: titles, championship race, and European final.

Terzic's success is defined by clear milestones: the 2021 German Cup, the disappointing 2022/2023 Bundesliga title race where Dortmund only lost to Bayern Munich on goal difference, and the pinnacle being the 2023/2024 Champions League final. Along that journey, Dortmund overcame stronger opponents like PSG and Atletico Madrid, showcasing his organizational and managerial abilities.

The formula for future Ballon d'Or winners.

In an exclusive interview, Terzic summarized the individual differences among his superstar pupils: “All those players could win the Ballon d'Or in the future. Even Jadon… I’m talking about talent and potential.” And he got to the point: “The difference is: Erling will reach that level if he keeps the hunger, Jadon Sancho will only reach that level if he keeps the smile on his face, and Jude needs both.”

Jude Bellingham: Nurturing a 19-Year-Old Leader

When Bellingham arrived at Dortmund at the age of 17, Terzic played the role of "big brother": "I told him that I might not be here when he won the Champions League, but I would be here when he won his first title. And we did that with the German Cup." To help Jude develop his hunger for victory into leadership qualities, Terzic gave him the captain's armband when he was just 19 years old – a decision that reflected trust and responsibility.

Erling Haaland: Keep the hunger alive.

According to Terzic, the key to Haaland is keeping the fire burning. His emphasis is on protecting the inner motivation – “the desire” – that positions Haaland on the path to reaching the highest level.

Jadon Sancho: Reawakening the joy of playing football

Sancho is a highly emotional talent. Terzic proactively "softened" the demands off the pitch: not being too strict about schedules as long as overall discipline was maintained. "On the pitch, I want to awaken the childlike joy of playing football in Jadon, and off the pitch, I help him maintain the professionalism of an athlete," he said. That's how the smile – Sancho's ultimate motivation – is always present.

The art of human resource management: personalization for collective optimization.

Terzic's philosophy stems from one principle: "If you want to get something special from the players, you need to give them something special off the pitch." He treats each player as an individual, flexibly adapting his role: "Sometimes you're a brother, sometimes a father, sometimes you have to be a lawyer and sometimes a judge. What I don't want to be is to be a cop all the time."

Individualization doesn't mean laxity. Terzic emphasizes discipline: "The only thing players hate more than rules is when there are no rules at all." This consistency is the foundation that has allowed a team that wasn't highly rated to go far in Europe.

The journey from West Ham and the next turning point.

Before Dortmund, Terzic worked as an assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham and also worked with a young Declan Rice. After leading Dortmund to the 2023/2024 Champions League final, he decided to resign: “I believe I have taken Dortmund as far as possible and I want a new challenge.”

With his fluent English and a professional coaching license from the English Football Association, Terzic is a strong candidate for ambitious projects. He takes the time to meet with fellow coaches, refine his ideas, and doesn't rush: "The country or the club's name doesn't matter; what matters is that it's a shared project that we all want to work on together."

Key career statistics and milestones