Niko Kovač Wins Coach of the Year in Germany Award

Former Croatia captain and coach Niko Kovač collects the award last night (Screenshot/YouTube/Bild)

Former Croatia coach Niko Kovač (46) has been named ‘Coach of the Year’ by popular German newspaper Bild. 

Kovač, who is the current coach of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, collected the award last night at a ceremony in front of over 700 guests in Hamburg. 

There were nine categories at the Bild Sports Awards with Kovač winning the ‘Coach of the Year’ award. 

Kovač last year led Eintracht Frankfurt to win the German Cup with a sensational victory in the final over favourites and league champions Bayern Munich. He was then named the new coach of Bayern Munich in April and started his reign with a win in the opening game of the season against Hoffenheim. 

Niko Kovac has received SportBild’s coach of the year award. pic.twitter.com/Z6QHCIdrw4

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 27, 2018

“I am standing here with the award in my hand as a representative of Eintracht, the coaching staff, and players. I am not only deserving of this award, but all of us”, Kovač said. 

The former Croatia captain was then asked if he would exchange German Cup for a gold medal for Croatia at a World Cup. 

“Uh, that is a tough decision but my answer is yes. As a patriot I would say that I would”, Kovač concluded. 

Kovač played 34 Bundesliga matches for FC Bayern from 2001 to 2003, scoring three goals. He and his brother Robert won the Intercontinental Cup in 2001 and the German championship in 2002 with FC Bayern.