Chelsea and Manchester United on Iraola alert as Athletic Club confirm Edin Terzic appointment
Athletic move for former Borussia Dortmund boss Terzic, a decision that leaves Andoni Iraola in demand across the Premier League.
Chelsea and Manchester United are among the Premier League clubs now on alert regarding Andoni Iraola after Athletic Club confirmed Edin Terzic as their new head coach.
As previously reported by AS in March, Terzic will take charge of Athletic for the next two seasons. The agreement had been in place for months, but the club made it official this morning.
Jon Uriarte, who had already identified Terzic as a preferred candidate during his presidential campaign, has now finalized the appointment without opposition from other alternatives. While different names were considered along the way, Athletic’s internal plan consistently leaned toward the former Borussia Dortmund manager.
The timing is significant, not just for Athletic, but for the wider managerial market.
Iraola back in the Premier League spotlight
Iraola, who announced last month he would be leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season, had been on Athletic’s shortlist, but that option did not move forward. With Terzic now confirmed, Iraola is effectively back on the market at a moment when several Premier League clubs are reassessing their managerial situations.
Chelsea and Manchester United are among those monitoring potential coaching changes, and Iraola’s stock in England is high following his work at Rayo Vallecano and, in particular, Bournemouth.
Terzic’s résumé and European pedigree
Terzic, 43, brings significant top-level experience from Borussia Dortmund, where he served across two separate spells as head coach.
He lifted the German Cup in 2021 and came close to winning the Bundesliga title in 2023. In 2024, he guided Dortmund to the Champions League final, where they were defeated by Real Madrid. His emotional farewell to the club included tears in front of supporters.
Beyond his head coaching roles, Terzic also worked within Dortmund’s academy and sporting structure, giving him experience in broader club development. He has also served as an assistant coach at West Ham United in England and Besiktas in Turkey.
Terzic’s official presentation to come after the season
Athletic Club confirmed that Terzic will be officially presented once the current season concludes.
There are still four matches remaining, which the club described as “very important and exciting,” as they push through the final stretch of the campaign.
The announcement also comes as Athletic prepare to give Ernesto Valverde a fitting farewell. The veteran coach has just reached 500 matches in charge of the Basque club, marking a historic milestone in his long tenure.
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