Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the appointment of Nuri Sahin as their new manager.
The former Dortmund and Liverpool midfielder has signed a three-year contract to take over from Edin Terzic, who left the club of his own accord on Thursday.
Terzic left after leading the club to the Champions League final – where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid – before falling out with defender Mats Hummels.
According to German outlet Image, Terzic was furious about Hummels’ criticism of his tactics. A confrontation between the pair turned violent and “so heated that the club discussed personal consequences.”
‘It is a great honor for me to be coach of Borussia Dortmund. I would like to thank all those responsible at the club for the trust they have placed in me,” said Sahin.
Nuri Sahin has been confirmed as the new manager of Borussia Dortmund on a three-year deal
Sahin, left, was assistant manager to Edin Terzic (centre) and played a key role in their run to the Champions League final
‘I’m really looking forward to my job at BVB. From day one, we will do everything we can with a lot of energy and great passion to achieve the maximum possible success.
‘The spirit must be created here, work must be done here, suffering must happen here. We have to laugh here, we have to cry here, we have to work here and we will put everything into it.’
The 35-year-old made 274 appearances for Dortmund across two spells at the club after coming through the club’s academy.
Sahin initially played for the club between 2005 and 2011, before joining Real Madrid for €10 million.
The Turkey international later spent time on loan at Liverpool and Dortmund before finally returning to the German side in 2014.
He retired from playing in 2021 after short spells at Werder Bremen and Antalyaspor.
Sahin started his management career with the latter after his retirement.
He was appointed as one of Terzic’s two assistants at Dortmund in December 2023, along with former teammate Sven Bender.
The Turkey international made two appearances for Dortmund during his playing career
He was loaned out to Liverpool for a short period during the 2012/2013 season before returning to Dortmund
Bild reports that Sahin is regarded as a tactical expert and motivator at the club, citing his connection with the players and Dortmund’s past.
Sahin reportedly played a key role in Dortmund’s shock run to the Champions League final, where they were defeated 2-0 by Real Madrid.
Bender is expected to serve as Sahin’s assistant should his appointment be confirmed.
Terzic’s departure from Dortmund followed claims of a clash with experienced defender Hummels.
The dispute reportedly followed Hummels criticizing his manager’s tactics during their disappointing Bundesliga campaign.
They were ‘forced to make peace’ to focus on the Champions League final, but Terzic offered to walk away from the club, reports say Heaven Germany.
Dortmund finished fifth in the 2023/24 season, and experienced centre-back Hummels was not a fan of the way the team approached their matches against the players above them.
He told Bild: ‘I was furious because I believed that Borussia Dortmund should not play like that, against any opponent in the world.
Sahin is reportedly seen as a tactical expert with a strong bond with the squad
Terzic has reportedly offered to resign as Dortmund manager after a ‘violent confrontation’ with Mats Hummels (centre)
‘I didn’t think it could go on like this. I felt insulted in my honor to be on the field in that uniform. So submissive, so inferior in football terms. The two games in Stuttgart and the away game in Leverkusen. That was barricading with eleven men in the box.’
Terzic was reportedly furious at Hummels’ criticism, with Bild claiming it was ‘guaranteed’ one of the pair would leave the club this summer.
Reports in Germany suggest Hummels will follow Terzic out of the club, with his contract not expected to be renewed when it expires at the end of the month.