Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that head coach Niko Kovac will remain at the club until 2027 after signing a one-year contract extension. The announcement was made on Tuesday.
Kovac, who previously managed Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Monaco, arrived in January 2025 when Dortmund were struggling in 11th place. At one point, the team slipped to 13th in the Bundesliga table. However, Kovac turned things around in remarkable fashion, guiding Dortmund to win 22 out of a possible 24 points at the end of the season and securing a fourth-place finish — enough for a Champions League spot.
“With honest work, clear decisions, and great enthusiasm, we want to help Borussia Dortmund return to our former strength,” Kovac said after the extension. “We still have a lot to do together.”
Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl praised the coach, saying:
“Kovac approaches every game with conviction, intensity, and passion. We believe together we can continue the successful path of last season’s final spurt.”
Known for his strict discipline, focus on fitness, and team work-rate, Kovac made a name for himself in 2018 by winning the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt. He later won the Bundesliga and German Cup double with Bayern Munich in the 2018–19 season.
As a player, the Berlin-born tactician represented Croatia 83 times, scoring 14 goals, and played for top clubs including Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Hamburg.
Dortmund’s new Bundesliga campaign did not start smoothly, as they drew 3-3 against St Pauli, conceding two late goals and going down to 10 men in the final minutes.
Despite the rocky start, the club is confident Kovac’s leadership will push them forward both domestically and in Europe.
