Dortmund Extends Niko Kovac’s Contract Through 2027

Borussia Dortmund has prolonged head coach Niko Kovac’s tenure by an additional year, securing his position with the club until 2027. This announcement came from the Bundesliga team on Tuesday.

Kovac, who previously managed Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and AS Monaco, initially joined Dortmund in January 2025 on an 18-month agreement. At the time, the squad was struggling in 11th place.

Despite a brief drop to 13th, the 52-year-old dramatically improved the season’s trajectory. He led Dortmund to accumulate 22 points in their last eight games, guaranteeing a fourth-place standing and a spot in the Champions League.

“We aim to restore Borussia Dortmund to its past glory through dedicated effort, decisive actions, and immense passion,” Kovac stated. “We still have much work ahead of us together.”

Sporting director Sebastian Kehl highlighted the coach’s influence, saying, “Niko approaches each match with strong belief, high energy, and zeal. We are confident that we can build upon the successful momentum gained at the end of last season.”

Widely recognized for his focus on discipline, fitness, and a strong work ethic, Kovac first gained recognition when he guided Eintracht Frankfurt to victory in the German Cup in 2018.

He subsequently steered Bayern Munich to a domestic double in the 2018-19 season before his departure the following year.

As a player, Berlin-born Kovac represented Croatia in 83 international matches, scoring 14 goals. His club career included stints at Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Hamburg.

Dortmund’s new campaign began with a disappointing 3-3 draw against St. Pauli, where they conceded two goals and were reduced to 10 players in the final minutes.