Edin Terzic: Dortmund master and the art of creating superstars

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

Dortmund's mark: titles, championship races and European finals

Terzic's success has been defined by clear milestones: the 2021 German Cup, the 2022/2023 Bundesliga race that ended regrettably when Dortmund finished behind Bayern Munich only on goal difference, and the pinnacle of the 2023/2024 Champions League final. Along the way, Dortmund overcame highly rated opponents such as PSG and Atletico Madrid, demonstrating his ability to organize and manage the team.

The formula for future Golden Balls

In an exclusive interview, Terzic summed up the individual differences between his superstar pupils: “All of those players can win the Ballon d'Or in the future. Even Jadon... I'm talking about talent and potential.” And he got to the crux of the matter: “The difference is: Erling will reach that level if he keeps his hunger, Jadon Sancho will only reach that level if he keeps his 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 took on 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 trophy. And we did that with the German Cup.” To help Jude develop his desire to win into leadership, Terzic handed him the captaincy when he was just 19 – a decision that reflected trust and responsibility.

Erling Haaland: maintaining the desire

For Haaland, the key, according to Terzic, is to keep the fire burning. For him, the key lies in protecting the internal motivation – the “hunger” – that keeps Haaland on a trajectory to reach the highest level.

Jadon Sancho: awakening the joy of playing football

Sancho is an emotional talent. Terzic has been proactive in “softening” the demands off the pitch: not too strict about time as long as the general discipline is guaranteed. “On the pitch, I want to awaken Jadon’s joy of playing football like a child, and off the pitch, I help him maintain the professionalism of an athlete,” he said. That is how Sancho’s ultimate motivation – a smile – is always present.

The art of human management: personalization to optimize the collective

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

Individuality does not mean laxity. Terzic stresses discipline: “The only thing players hate more than rules is when there are no rules.” This consistency is the foundation that has helped an underrated team go far in Europe.

The journey from West Ham and the next turning point

Before Dortmund, Terzic was an assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham and 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 I can and want a new challenge.”

With his fluent English and professional coaching qualifications from the English Football Association, Terzic is a prime candidate for ambitious projects. He takes his time meeting fellow coaches, honing his ideas, and taking his time: “The country or the club name is not important, what is important is that it is a common project that we all want to do together.”

Statistics and notable career milestones