German club Borussia Dortmund announced on Tuesday the extension of Croatian coach Niko Kovac's contract with the first team by two additional seasons, keeping him in his position until the summer of 2029.
Lars Ricken, the club's sporting director, said in a statement: "Since Niko Kovac took over more than a year and a half ago, we have been on the right track with him. He has continued to consistently develop the team's performance and is highly valued within our club."
His coaching career
For his part, Kovac, 54, said: "We have started a clear path of development together, laid important foundations for the future, and we want to build on what we have achieved so far."
Dortmund signed German coach Nuri Sahin at the beginning of summer 2024, after two seasons under Croatian coach Edin Terzic, during which the team finished second in the German Bundesliga and lost the 2024 UEFA Champions League final.
Sahin, a former Dortmund player, was dismissed in late January 2025 due to a decline in results, with Kovac replacing him at the beginning of February of the same year.
Kovac's achievements
The Croatian coach was initially appointed on a contract running until the summer of 2026, before the club renewed it for the first time in August 2025, extending it until the end of the 2026-2027 season.
During the second half of his first season, Kovac managed to lead Dortmund to secure a spot in the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League.
Last season, he led the team to second place in the German Bundesliga, 16 points behind Bayern Munich, the champions, who accumulated 89 points compared to Dortmund's 73.
Despite losing 1-2 to Bayern in the German Super Cup last August, the team regained its balance, achieving six wins and one draw across various competitions, including four in the Bundesliga, a victory in the UEFA Champions League, and another in the German Cup.
Current team status
Dortmund currently holds second place in the league with 13 points, two points ahead of Bayern Munich after five rounds.
The German club will host Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt on Wednesday in the second round of the unified group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
Comments (0)