Former Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac, 53 years old, is appointed by Borussia Dortmund for a managerial deal until 2026, the club’s sporting director Lars Ricken confirmed today. Kovac will take the place of dismissed Nuri Sahin, taking over after Mike Tullberg, the acting coach, works for the side in the scheduled match on Saturday against Heidenheim.
Ricken confirmed the arrangement with Kovac to DAZN following Dortmund’s 3-1 Champions League win against Shakhtar Donetsk. “Mike Tullberg will start on Saturday and Niko on Sunday,” he said.
Kovac coached Wolfsburg but left the side in March 2024. Kovac was a disciplinarian and majorly emphasized fitness. He had taken Eintracht Frankfurt to German Cup victory in 2018; then, he won a league and cup double with Bayern Munich in 2018-19.
Dortmund, struggling after reaching last season’s Champions League final, currently sits 11th in the Bundesliga, 22 points behind leaders Bayern, and has won just one of their last eight domestic matches.