Big changes are brewing at San Mamés. Athletic Club have officially named Edin Terzic as their new head coach, signing the German manager on a contract that runs through 2028. While the move had been an open secret for weeks, Los Leones have now made it official: Terzic will take over from the departing Ernesto Valverde.

Valverde announced back in March that he would be stepping down at the end of the season, sparking a wave of speculation about his successor. Names like Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Rayo Vallecano's Inigo Perez—both former Athletic players—were heavily linked. But behind the scenes, club president Jon Uriarte had already lined up his man. Terzic, who has never worked in Spain before, will bring a fresh tactical approach and a strong commitment to youth development—a philosophy that fits perfectly with Athletic's identity.

This marks a historic moment for the club. Terzic becomes the first foreign manager at Athletic since 2018, when Toto Berizzo's spell ended poorly after success at Celta Vigo. Before that, Marcelo Bielsa's iconic two-year run in Bilbao set a high bar. At 43, Terzic arrives with an impressive resume: he won the German Pokal in 2021, nearly clinched the Bundesliga title in 2023, and led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2024, where they fell to Real Madrid. He's also served as an assistant at West Ham United and Besiktas.

Terzic will be officially presented after the season ends, with four games still to play. It's the end of an era for Valverde, who coached his 500th match for Athletic on Saturday. He leaves behind some massive shoes to fill: a return to the Champions League after a decade-long absence and a Copa del Rey title—the club's first in over 40 years. But this season, things had grown stale, and Terzic's arrival promises to inject new energy into the squad.

For Athletic fans, this is a bold new chapter. And for anyone who loves the beautiful game, watching how Terzic adapts to the unique challenge of coaching in Bilbao will be one of next season's most intriguing storylines.