Dortmund’s manager, a lifelong supporter, is now ready to demolish Newcastle once more.

 

 

When Borussia Dortmund failed to defend their Bundesliga crown on the final day of last season, their manager Edin Terzic’s former team West Ham felt the pain.

‘He has a love for that club that is quite comparable to mine at West Ham,’ said former Hammers captain and now sporting director Mark Noble of Dortmund fan-turned-boss Terzic.

‘It has a little more significance for him. Losses will mean more, and victories will mean more. He’s probably not getting much sleep at night because of that.

‘I was disappointed that they didn’t win the league for him, because it would have been really special.’

Dortmund’s 2-2 tie against Mainz saw them miss out on their first league title since 2012 due to goal difference, allowing Bayern Munich to reclaim the crown.

Terzic’s team suffered another defeat at the hands of their old rivals on Saturday, as Harry Kane’s hat-trick propelled Bayern to a 4-0 triumph in Der Klassiker, Dortmund’s first league defeat of the season.

But Newcastle will know what Terzic and his team are capable of after Eddie Howe’s side were subdued by Dortmund at St James’ Park last month in a way that few visiting teams have managed.

 

 

Dortmund’s eye-catching performance in Terzic’s masterful 1-0 win against West Ham may not have surprised those who worked with him as a young coach.

Former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic stated, ‘I am convinced he will be one of the most prominent coaches in Europe.’

Bilic attempted but failed to persuade Terzic, a scout and academy coach reporting to Jurgen Klopp at the time, to join him at Lokomotiv Moscow in 2012. Terzic later worked as Bilic’s assistant at Besiktas and West Ham.

He first wowed Bilic with his appraisal of Croatia’s Euro 2012 opponents, Ireland. Terzic was trusted by Bilic, who let him conduct sessions, speak at team meetings, and even ghostwrite interviews for him.

Noble recalls a few details about Terzic as well. Terzic stated that he knew he wanted to coach following a playing career that, while not spectacular, saw him score frequently in Germany’s fourth level.

Terzic proved he still had it by frequently participating in training. He provided vitality and enthusiasm to the backstage personnel.

Terzic commands respect despite being only 32 years old when he joined West Ham due to his work rate and desire to better players and the squad. Another wonderful recollection is a Terzic crossing and concluding warm-up practice.

Noble remembers Terzic’s intense love of football in particular. ‘It’s everything,’ he added. ‘You could tell he was infatuated right away.

‘After games, we would sit on the field and chat for hours about formations, how we performed, and how we could improve. You knew he’d be successful since he was so into the game.

 

 

‘Because of the expectations, a lot of people who work or play football don’t actually love the game. But it was clear that he enjoyed everything that came with it. He desired to be extremely successful and to assist others. It didn’t surprise me when he returned to Dortmund, and it hasn’t surprised me how well he’s done.’

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Moyes would laugh at a sideways move.

The suggestion that David Moyes would be reassigned to a different function ‘upstairs’ at West Ham seems ridiculous. I’m not sure if the suggestion is for him to become a non-executive director or something else, but it’s something he’d absolutely turn down.

 

 

Moyes recently won a trophy, so any change would likely be viewed as a step back. He’ll believe that even at 60, he still has a lot to offer the world of football.

I’m sure he’ll be furious that his West Ham future has been disclosed by a national radio station. While I’d like to believe Moyes was informed of the club’s choice not to renew his contract at the end of the season. A part of me wonders if he found out like the rest of us through talkSPORT.

I’m sure he’d consider any attempt to appease him with a smaller role as a PR ploy, knowing full well that he’d deny such an offer. Moyes would consider it an insult, and the club will be aware of this. The Scotsman would consider West Ham’s offer of a newly created post for David Moyes to be a demotion. Any such offer, I believe, would be rejected outright by the manager, and the club is well aware of this.

Furthermore, Moyes lacks expertise as a football club director. It’s also worth noting that West Ham already has a sporting director in Mark Noble and a football director in Tim Steidten.

 

 

The last thing David Moyes wants to do is stay and work with the person he blames for jeopardizing his beloved profession.