Dortmund Extend Coach Niko Kovac’s Contract Until 2027

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed the extension of coach Niko Kovac’s contract by one season, keeping him at the club until 2027.

The Bundesliga side announced the decision on Tuesday, following his impressive turnaround that secured Champions League football for the team.

This report, gotten from Vanguard, notes that Kovac, a former manager of Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and Monaco, joined Dortmund on an 18-month deal in January 2025 when the club was in 11th place.

Despite slipping to 13th at one point, he steered Dortmund to win 22 of a possible 24 points, finishing the season in fourth, the final Champions League qualification spot.

“With honest work, clear decisions, and great enthusiasm, we want to help Borussia Dortmund return to our former strength,” Kovac said in a statement.
“We still have a lot to do together.”

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl praised Kovac, saying he “approaches every game with conviction, intensity and passion,” adding, “we believe together we can continue the successful path of last season’s final spurt.”

Considered a disciplinarian with a strong focus on fitness and work-rate, Kovac first made his mark by winning the German Cup as Eintracht Frankfurt manager in 2018. He went on to Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2018-19 before being dismissed the following season.

As a player, the Berlin-born Kovac represented Croatia 83 times, scoring 14 goals, while playing for Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg.

Dortmund began the new season with a frustrating 3-3 draw at St Pauli, conceding two late goals and finishing the match with 10 men.