30 January 2025
Borussia Dortmund announced the appointment of Croatian Niko Kovac, 53, as the team's new technical director, a week after the dismissal of Turkish Nuri Sahin. Borussia Dortmund announced on its official website that Niko Kovac's contract with the team is until June 30, 2026, and that he will take over responsibility starting next Sunday, the day after the match against Heidenheim in the Bundesliga.
Kovac's technical staff includes his brother Robert Kovac and Filip Tapalovic as his assistant coaches. Borussia Dortmund is scheduled to officially introduce Niko Kovac at a press conference next week.
Kovac, who gave up coaching Wolfsburg in March 2024, won the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt at the expense of Bayern in 2018, before taking over the top position in Munich weeks later.
With the Bavarian giants, he won the league and cup in the 2018-19 season, but the club let him go midway through the following season.
Known for his disciplined style and focus on fitness, Kovac will oversee a Dortmund side that has struggled since reaching the Champions League final last season, sitting 11th in the league, 22 points behind leaders Bayern, and having won just one of their last eight domestic matches.
Borussia Dortmund beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 on Wednesday evening to qualify for the Champions League play-offs after finishing 11th.
