Niko Kovač named new Borussia Dortmund coach
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
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Niko Kovač (Photo credit: Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Borussia Dortmund has officially confirmed that former Croatia manger Niko Kovač is their new head coach.
The 53-year-old has signed a contract with the club until June 2026.
Kovač will take charge next Sunday after Dortmund’s Bundesliga match against Heidenheim. He will be joined by his brother Robert Kovač and Filip Tapalović, both former Croatian internationals, as part of his coaching staff.
He replaces Nuri Şahin in the dugout.
Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken expressed confidence in the new appointment.
“We had good talks with Kovač, and he understands our expectations. His teams always show great energy, and we want to see that on the pitch. We are in a challenging situation, but we believe he can turn things around,” Ricken said.
Kovač also shared his excitement about the new role. “In discussions with Lars, I got a good understanding of the situation. I am confident we can achieve great things.
Most importantly, I will bring passion, energy, and a strong will to represent Borussia Dortmund in the best possible way,” he stated.
This will be Kovač’s fourth managerial job in the Bundesliga. He previously coached Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, and Wolfsburg, as well as a stint in charge of Monaco.
He also led Croatia’s national team from 2013 to 2015, guiding them to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil before being dismissed during the Euro 2016 qualifiers.
With a wealth of experience and a clear vision, Kovač will be aiming to make an immediate impact at Signal Iduna Park.
Welcome, Niko! ✍️
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 30, 2025
Borussia Dortmund has appointed Niko Kovač as their new head coach. The 53-year-old, born in Berlin, has signed a contract with BVB until June 30, 2026, and will officially take charge next Sunday after the club’s Bundesliga match against Heidenheim. pic.twitter.com/O6hPBoCxn2