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Nuri Sahin took over the coaching position at Borussia Dortmund from Edin Terzic. The former BVB player has found happiness not only professionally, but also privately.
Dortmund – Anyone who watches Nuri Sahin on the sidelines sees a man full of drive. The youngest Bundesliga player of all time at the time of his debut has decided to stay true to football even after his active career – and took on his first really big coaching position in the summer of 2024: He succeeded Edin Terzic as coach of Borussia Dortmund.
The 35-year-old also has the support of his family – especially his wife Tugba, whom the former BVB star married at the age of 19. From a German perspective, this is particularly important, but from a Turkish perspective, less so: Tugba is his cousin. The two have a son together, who was born in 2011.
BVB coach Nuri Sahin has found private happiness: Married to cousin at the age of 19
In Turkey, the home country of Sahin’s parents, among other places, marriages between cousins are still relatively common. In Germany, marriage between cousins is not forbidden, but it is unusual and frowned upon. For Sahin, it was clearly the right step.
His former coach Bayram Celik said at the time: “I would have been surprised if anyone else had married at 19. But marriage gives Nuri additional support. It was a very conscious decision: he simply wanted to come home after work and have someone with him.”
Nuri Sahin and his wife Tugba. © imago/Simon
Nuri Sahin dreamed of becoming a coach at BVB – now he has it
After the wedding, his career continued to go uphill. After a loan to Feyenoord Rotterdam, the German-Turk finally made it at BVB and moved to Real Madrid in 2011. He was then loaned to Liverpool FC and Borussia Dortmund before moving back to BVB in 2014.
After further stints at Werder Bremen and Antalyaspor, he ended his career in 2022. In an interview with Kicker he said in the same year: “I have never made a secret of the fact that Borussia Dortmund is a matter close to my heart and I dream of one day celebrating a victory in front of the South Stand as a coach.”
Sahin was convinced that he could do it too: “When I left BVB and went to Bremen, I sat at home with my wife in the evening and said to her: ‘I think I have what it takes to coach this club one day.'” He was right. Most recently, he made an urgent request to BVB fans. (epp)
