Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the appointment of Nuri Sahin as their new manager.
The former Dortmund and Liverpool midfielder has penned a three-year deal to take over the reins from Edin Terzic, who left the club by his own volition on Thursday.
Terzic departed after leading the club to the Champions League final – where they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid – before a reported row with defender Mats Hummels.
According to German outlet Bild, Terzic was enraged by Hummels’ criticism of his tactics. A confrontation between the pair became violent and ‘so heated that the club discussed personal consequences’.
‘It is a great honor for me to be the coach of Borussia Dortmund. I would like to thank everyone in charge at the club for the trust they have placed in me,’ said Sahin.
Nuri Sahin has been confirmed as Borussia Dortmund’s new manager on a three-year deal
Sahin, left, was an assistant manager to Edin Terzic (centre), and a key part of their run to the Champions League final
‘I am 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 has to be created here, work has to be done here, suffering has to 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 in a €10million (£8.4m) move.
The Turkish international later had loans as Liverpool and Dortmund, before rejoining the German side permanently in 2014.
He retired from the game in 2021 following brief spells at Werder Bremen and Antalyaspor.
Sahin launched his managerial career with the latter after his retirement.
He was appointed as one of two assistants to Terzic at Dortmund in December 2023, along with former team-mate Sven Bender.
The Turkish international played for Dortmund in two spells during his playing career
He had a brief spell on loan at Liverpool during the 2012-13 season before rejoining Dortmund
Bild report that Sahin is considered at the club as a tactical expert and motivator, citing his connection with the players and to Dortmund’s past.
Sahin was reportedly credited with having played a key role in Dortmund’s shock run to the Champions League final, where they were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid.
Bender is expected to serve as an assistant to Sahin, should his appointment be confirmed.
Terzic’s departure from Dortmund followed claims of a clash with veteran defender Hummels.
The dispute reportedly followed Hummels criticising 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, as reported by Sky Germany.
Dortmund finished fifth in 2023-24, and veteran centre-back Hummels was not a fan of how the team approached their games against those above them in the table.
He told Bild: ‘I was furious because I was of the opinion that Borussia Dortmund shouldn’t play like that – against any opponent in the world.
Sahin has reportedly been viewed as a tactical expert with a strong connection to the squad
Terzic 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 honour to stand on the pitch in that kit. So submissive, so inferior in footballing terms. The two Stuttgart games and the away game in Leverkusen. That was barricading with 11 men in the box.’
Terzic was reportedly furious with Hummels’ criticism, and Bild claimed it was ‘guaranteed’ one of the pair will leave the club this summer.
Reports in Germany have indicated 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.