Former Liverpool player Nuri Sahin is set to become the new manager of Borussia Dortmund, succeeding Edin Terzic. While Sahin may not be at the forefront of Liverpool supporters’ minds, he is a respected figure in European football, particularly at Dortmund, where he has been serving as an assistant coach under Terzic since January.
Multiple sources, including Bild, have reported that Sahin’s appointment is imminent. His agent, Reza Fazeli, has been finalizing the details over the past few days, indicating that the deal is almost finalized. This news comes after Terzic expressed his desire to leave the club.
Although the official announcement has not been made yet, journalists like Fabrizio Romano have confirmed that Sahin is the priority choice for Dortmund. As an assistant coach, Sahin played a crucial role in guiding Dortmund to their first Champions League final in 11 years. Unfortunately, they lost 2-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley. Interestingly, Sahin was also a substitute in Dortmund’s previous Champions League final appearance in 2012 under Jurgen Klopp, which also ended in defeat at Wembley.
During his time at Liverpool, Sahin had a short and underwhelming spell. He joined the club on an 18-month loan in August 2012 but struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. Sahin made only 12 appearances and scored three goals for Liverpool. His relationship with then-manager Brendan Rodgers was also strained, and Sahin expressed relief upon leaving the club, saying, “Thank God I have left Brendan Rodgers.”
After retiring from playing, Sahin transitioned into coaching and became the manager of Antalyaspor. He made headlines in Turkey for his actions during a match against Fenerbahce, where he shielded the referee from his own players after a controversial decision. Following two years with Antalyaspor, Sahin joined Dortmund as an assistant coach to Terzic alongside Sven Bender in late 2023.
If Sahin is officially appointed as Dortmund’s manager, he will have a challenging task ahead. The team recently finished fifth in the league, and veteran defender Mats Hummels has announced his departure. Dortmund will need to significantly improve to compete at the highest level.
Despite Sahin’s limited success at Liverpool, most supporters still have a soft spot for Dortmund. Sahin has never spoken ill of the club itself, and Liverpool fans wish him the best of luck in his new role as manager.