Borussia Dortmund (© CPD Football)
Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund has released head coach Lucien Favre and his assistant coach Manfred Stefes from their duties with immediate effect. The decision was made unanimously by the club officials after BVB’s 5-1 home defeat to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday and was announced on Sunday afternoon.
Chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke said: “We’re all grateful to Lucien Favre for his outstanding work over the past two and a half years, during which time he and his team finished as runner-up twice. Beyond any doubt, Lucien Favre is a great professional and person.”
“It was a tough decision for us to take. Nonetheless, we felt we were in danger of not achieving our objectives for the season after this difficult phase. That’s why we had to take action,” added BVB sporting director Michael Zorc.
Current assistant coach Edin Terzic, 38, will take over as head coach until the end of the season. Terzic, whose coaching career started in the BVB youth system, had spells working for the first teams at Besiktas and West Ham United before returning to the Strobelallee as Favre’s assistant in 2018. In his work with the team, Terzic will be supported by the U17 coach Sebastian Geppert, 36, and talent trainer Otto Addo, 45.
Edin Terzic was in charge on Sunday afternoon as the Black & Yellows started their preparations for the Bundesliga match away to SV Werder Bremen (Tuesday at 20:30 CET).