Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic spent two years in a widely forgotten Premier League job before guiding the German side to the Champions League final

German football coach Edin Terzic had a forgotten spell in the Premier League before guiding Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final.

Mats Hummels scored the only goal at the Parc Des Princes on Tuesday as Borussia Dortmund beat PSG 1-0 on the night, and 2-0 on aggregate, to reach the final at Wembley on June 1.

For 41-year-old Terzic, next month’s showpiece finale will be a welcome return to England, where he previously worked in a role that casual observers may have overlooked. 

Terzic worked as an assistant coach for Slaven Bilic at Besiktas from 2013 to 2015, and when the Croatian boss joined West Ham in June 2015, the German followed him to London – when the Hammers were still at Upton Park.

He spent two years as an assistant at West Ham, during which time they moved to the London Stadium, but he left the club when Bilic was fired as head coach in November 2017, along with fellow coaching assistants Nikola Jurcevic, Julian Dicks and Miljenko Rak. 

There was further education in England, as the following year, Terzic earned his UEFA Pro Licence in an 18-month course run by The FA, alongside Graham Potter – who went on to manage Chelsea – as well as former professional players Nemanja Vidic, David James and Nicky Butt. 

Terzic worked as a scout and assistant coach in the youth academy of Borussia Dortmund between 2010 and 2013, and returned to the club set-up in 2018.

He has worked as a coach, interim manager and technical director at Dortmund since rejoining, before being reappointed as manager for the 2022-23 Bundesliga campaign.

Last season, they lost the league title to Bayern Munich on goal difference, following a shock draw at home to Mainz on the final day.

This season, they currently sit fifth in the Bundesliga table, and could come up against Bayern in the Champions League final in June, if their German rivals overcome Real Madrid in the second semi-final on Wednesday. 

It is the first time that Borussia Dortmund have reached the Champions League final since 2013, when they lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich, in a game also held at Wembley. 

Speaking after Tuesday’s semi-final success, Terzic said he was ‘proud’ of his players, adding: ‘If I have to pick one word it is a proud moment for us, my staff, my team, the club. The dream is not over yet. It is unbelievable. It was an outstanding team performance.’

Terzic may hope the Hammers’ European luck rubs off on Dortmund after West Ham’s success in the UEFA Europa Conference League final last year.