Borussia Dortmund has renewed coach Niko Kovac’s contract for another season, extending it until 2027, the club announced on Tuesday.
Kovac, who previously managed Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Monaco, joined Dortmund in January 2025 when the club was in 11th place with an 18-month contract.
Despite a dip to 13th place, Kovac turned the team’s fortunes around, leading Dortmund to secure 22 out of a possible 24 points in the final stretch, finishing fourth and claiming the last Champions League spot.
“With hard work, clear decisions, and enthusiasm, we want to restore Borussia Dortmund to its former strength,” Kovac said in a statement.
“There’s much more to achieve together,” he added.
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Kovac is known as a strict coach with a strong emphasis on fitness and effort. He first gained prominence by winning the German Cup as the manager of Frankfurt in 2018.
His time at Bayern included a double win in the 2018-19 season, but he was dismissed the following year.
As a player, the Berlin-born Kovac represented Croatia 83 times, scoring 14 goals, and played for Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Hamburg.
Dortmund started the new season with a disappointing 3-3 draw against St. Pauli, allowing two goals and ending the match with 10 men in the last five minutes.
Published on Aug 26, 2025