Having now made their position pretty clear regarding Lopetegui’s future, the West Ham management will be revisiting the shortlist to replace Lopetegui if the West Ham side fail to win the ‘must-win’ match against Everton next weekend.
Tim Steidten’s influence will be key – the jury is out on’who chose Lopetegui’ but rumours suggests Sullivan made the appointment whilst Steidten sat in on the interview.
IF Tim Steidten is allowed a free rein I could see him selecting Edin Terzic as a natural successor. Number one because he is available and won’t cost a compensation payment (we know that West Ham on principle will not pay other club’s compensation packages for Head Coaches).
Number two because he is a proven winner in the Bundesliga. A league well known to Steidten.
Terzic, after assisting Slaven Bilic at London Stadium, according to ‘coachesvoice.com’: ” Went on to coach Dortmund as an assistant coach in 2017. Then, in December 2020, he took over as interim manager until the end of the season, winning the German Cup.
After a season as technical director, he became manager on a permanent basis going into the 2022/23 campaign. That year, Dortmund agonisingly lost the title to Bayern on goal difference on the last day of the season, drawing 2-2 at home against Mainz when a win would have secured top spot.
Terzic and the club bounced back the following season, reaching a Wembley final after winning a Champions League group of death containing Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), AC Milan and Newcastle United, then eliminating PSV Eindhoven, Atlético Madrid and PSG in the knockouts.”
A pretty good pedigree, and no ‘job-hopping’ after ten or fifteen games. Terzic looks a solid performer. As far as his style:
“Terzic has mostly used 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations as Dortmund manager. Favouring a possession-based style of play, his Dortmund averaged 58 per cent possession in his first full season. That put them second in the Bundesliga’s possession rankings in 2022/23.
They have typically built with a back four, including expansive full-backs where possible. Ahead, Terzic has used a single pivot and two eights – positioned in the half-spaces – who are integral to combining with the full-backs, in order to escape pressure on their build. The wide players have the option to roll inside to narrower positions, occupying opposing centre-backs on different lines to full-backs. This provides more central passing options”
And according to caughtoffside.com just yesterday: “Terzic has shown at the German club that he can manage a big club with expectations, and he is capable of implementing an attractive style of football as well.”
Sounds like he would give West Ham a new sense of organisation and direction: Plus he knows the club, being a former Hammers head coach back in the Boleyn days. He’ll also know how to get the best out of former Dortmund player Niclas Fullkrug if he ever gets back to full fitness!
