While a return to West Ham United for a Frank Lampard or a Gary O’Neil would probably lead to more questions than answers, there is one man who may be given a much warmer welcome if he was to make an East London homecoming.
Hammers News have been informed by a source that Frank Lampard would be tempted to re-join West Ham, nearly a quarter of a century on from his contentious move to bitter rivals Chelsea.
The Upton Park graduate is rebuilding his managerial reputation at Coventry City. After taking the Sky Blues to within a Dan Ballard header of the Championship play-off final in May, Coventry are currently sitting in sixth and desperate to go one step further.
Former England striker Danny Bent talks up a Hammers return for Gary O’Neil, too. A man who spent two years in claret and blue from 2011 to 2013 remains without a job nine months after his spell in the Wolves dugout went sour.
Neither Lampard nor O’Neil are likely to be the first choice of many West Ham United supporters, however. Not with Nuno Espirito Santo available and reportedly ready to go again.
But as another familiar face also plans a return to the touchline – Slaven Bilic’s old assistant Edin Terzic has been out of work since June 2024 – the comments he gave to the Sueddeutsche Zeitung this week could give David Sullivan plenty to ponder.
Edin Terzic and Slaven Bilic during Manchester City v West Ham United - Pre Season Friendly
Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images
Edin Terzic gives West Ham United something to consider a year after Borussia Dortmund exit
While often under-appreciated in his native Germany, Terzic’s last game in management was none other than the 2023/24 Champions League final.
And though he left his beloved Borussia Dortmund with only a DFB Pokal winners’ medal to show from his two spells in charge, Terzic was a final day victory over Mainz and a Real Madrid triumph away from completing a deconstructed treble across three seasons.
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German publication Sport BILD reported that Edin Terzic turned down West Ham before Graham Potter replaced Julen Lopetegui in January. But should such an opportunity present itself again, a 42-year-old itching to get back in the game may be tempted to make a very different decision.
“If it’s a good fit, we can start right away,” says Terzic, before offering an indication as to why he might have rejected the Hammers’ advances eight months ago.
“In the last few months, a few very interesting doors for new jobs have opened for me. But not all of them felt right enough. Saying ‘no’ to the offers was a very conscious no. Or rather, a yes to family and, at the moment, to further development.”
Terzic speaks out on the Premier League’s growing power
More than half-a-year later, though, Terzic’s desire to kick-start his coaching career is growing stronger by the day.
“I also feel better prepared than I did a year ago. I want to apply the knowledge and ideas I’ve gained over the past year,” adds Terzic, who spent two years on Bilic’s coaching staff from 2015 to 2017 and loves the ever-growing ambition demonstrated by Premier League clubs.
“The English have caught up with clubs like Real Madrid or, in Germany, Bayern Munich. Money has helped them do this, but it would be a mistake to believe that this is solely due to quick cash.
“That one would overlook how well and consistently they work, and how cleverly they invest. The English aren’t always interested in signing the 28-year-old who just scored 40 goals in Spain. Often, they’re also interested in good, talented players with potential, or in developing their own squad.
“Think of Arsenal, who spent a lot of money but with common sense. Mikel Arteta has built a team.”
Lifting The Gunners from their lowest ebb and making the Emirates home to a consistent Premier League title-challenger once more, how West Ham need a coach with Mikel Arteta’s longevity and leadership.
The strength flowing throughout England’s top flight, meanwhile, is demonstrated by the fact that West Ham continue to struggle despite boasting such talents as Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and Germany’s first-choice centre-forward Niclas Fullkrug.
“The Premier League is certainly the league with the most attention in the world,” Terzic, who worked with Fullkrug at Dortmund, explains. “And that’s certainly due to the depth of play and the quality, which is simply stronger even at the bottom of the table than elsewhere.
“In the Premier League, there’s a game every weekend that would also be a perfectly worthy Champions League semi-final. Teams in the relegation battle have players who could help almost any team in Europe.”