Borussia Dortmund has moved swiftly to secure their new head coach, reaching an agreement with Niko Kovac on a contract that will extend through 2026. The appointment comes in the wake of Nuri Sahin's dismissal following a disappointing start to 2025, which culminated in a 2-1 Champions League defeat to Bologna.
Lars Ricken, Dortmund's CEO for sport, confirmed the appointment to DAZN on Wednesday, stating, "We have reached a fundamental agreement with Niko Kovac. He will take over the team on Sunday." The 53-year-old Kovac, who previously managed Monaco, Bayern Munich, and Eintracht Frankfurt, has been without a club since departing Wolfsburg in March 2024.
The immediate challenges facing Kovac are significant. Dortmund currently sits in 11th place in the Bundesliga, a concerning 22 points behind leaders Bayern Munich and six points away from Stuttgart, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot. While the team secured their first victory of the calendar year with a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday, their Bundesliga form remains a pressing concern.
Kovac will bring his trusted team with him, including his brother Robert as assistant coach and analyst Filip Tapalovic. The Croatian manager's appointment represents a departure from Dortmund's traditional approach, as he has no prior connection to the club and brings his own distinct tactical philosophy.
His track record with developing young talent could prove particularly valuable for Dortmund. At Monaco, Kovac was instrumental in transforming Aurelien Tchouameni into a holding midfielder before his €100m transfer to Real Madrid. He demonstrated similar success at Wolfsburg with Felix Nmecha, who is currently at Dortmund but sidelined with injury. His influence was also evident in the development of Tottenham's Micky Van der Ven, whom he converted from a full-back to a center-back.
The immediate focus will be on establishing the defensive stability that has been a hallmark of Kovac's coaching career. His experience in handling both young talents and established players could be crucial in helping Dortmund find the balance they desperately need, particularly in managing their attacking transitions without leaving themselves vulnerable at the back.
Before Kovac takes the reins, Mike Tullberg, Dortmund's under-19 coach, will oversee the weekend's Bundesliga fixture against Heidenheim. Kovac is expected to begin his tenure by leading his first training session on Sunday, marking the start of what Dortmund hopes will be a successful new chapter at the Westfalenstadion.
