Niko Kovac succeeds Nuri Sahin as a coach of Borussia Dortmund. The confirmed sports managing director Lars Ricken, after the 3-1 win in the Champions League against Schachtar Donetsk, in an interview with the broadcaster: “We have found a fundamental agreement. He will take over the team on Sunday, ”said Ricken. Various media had previously reported an agreement with the former trainer of Bayern Munich. Loud Bild-Zeitung signs a contract until 2026.
Sahin was released after the defeat at Bologna FC in the Champions League last week. The previous Junior coach Mike Tullberg is currently looking after the team. Sports director Sebastian Kehl had already announced on Wednesday evening in front of the Dortmund Champions League duel with Schachtar Donetsk that BVB was “on the home stretch” during its conversations with a new coach.
At the same time, Ralf Rangnick, who was also a candidate, canceled. He will remain coach of the Austrian national team, Rangnick emphasized as a studio guest at Canal+ Austria. The BVB of Tullberg will be trained against Donetsk and also on Saturday in the Bundesliga at the 1st FC Heidenheim. The Dane had taken a 2-2 against Werder Bremen in his debut after an early dispute against Nico Schlotterbeck.
Kovac had last worked for VfL Wolfsburg from 2022 to 2024. He celebrated great success at his other stations: With Eintracht Frankfurt, he was the cup winner in 2018. A year later he won the double with Bayern Munich. The 53-year-old also worked as a coach of the Croatian national team, and he also looked after the AS Monaco.