Terzic profiled as Uriarte’s preferred option to follow Valverde | OneFootball

Jon Uriarte has been mapping out Athletic’s post-Valverde plan, seeking a coach in a similar mould. According to as.com, although Andoni Iraola appealed, he has chosen to pursue Edin Terzić as the preferred option.

Terzic, 43, was born in Menden near Dortmund to Bosnian and Croatian parents. A Sports Science graduate, he played as a modest forward for Iserlohn, Westfalia Herne, Wattenscheid 09 and Cloppenburg.

He began coaching at Borussia Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp, later assisting Hannes Wolf in the academy and Slaven Bilic at West Ham and Beşiktaş. In 2018 he joined Lucien Favre’s first-team staff.

Made interim boss in December 2020, he led Dortmund to third and the German Cup, then became technical director. On 23 May 2022 he returned as head coach on a three-year deal, narrowly missing the 2022-23 title on the final day.

After reaching the UEFA Champions League final, lost to Madrid, he departed in June 2024 to an emotional Yellow Wall farewell.

Not a Valverde clone but with overlaps, Terzić favours front-foot football, high pressing and quick transitions, empowering one-on-one threats like Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi. He values rapid regains, creative freedom and late runs from midfielders such as Jude Bellingham, and has helped develop talents including Erling Haaland.

Tactically flexible, he blends detailed analysis with emotive leadership and is seen as one of Germany’s brightest young coaches. If he arrives in Spanish football, expect a base 4-2-3-1 with switches to 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, prioritising smart use of space over the drawing-board shape.

Source: as.com