_04.jpg) Kovač in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Niko Kovač[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1971-10-15)15 October 1971 (age 54)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | West Berlin, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Borussia Dortmund (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1987–1989 | Rapide Wedding | ||
| 1989–1990 | Hertha Zehlendorf | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1990–1991 | Hertha Zehlendorf | 25 | (7) |
| 1991 | Hertha BSC II | 12 | (1) |
| 1992–1996 | Hertha BSC | 138 | (15) |
| 1996–1999 | Bayer Leverkusen | 77 | (8) |
| 1999–2001 | Hamburger SV | 55 | (12) |
| 2001–2003 | Bayern Munich | 34 | (3) |
| 2003–2006 | Hertha BSC | 75 | (8) |
| 2006–2009 | Red Bull Salzburg | 65 | (9) |
| Total | 491 | (63) | |
| International career | |||
| 1996–2008 | Croatia | 83 | (14) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2012–2013 | Croatia U21 | ||
| 2013–2015 | Croatia | ||
| 2016–2018 | Eintracht Frankfurt | ||
| 2018–2019 | Bayern Munich | ||
| 2020–2022 | Monaco | ||
| 2022–2024 | VfL Wolfsburg | ||
| 2025– | Borussia Dortmund | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Niko Kovač (Croatian pronunciation:[nǐːkokǒʋaːtʃ,–kô-]; born 15 October 1971) is a professionalfootball manager and former player. He is the manager ofBundesliga clubBorussia Dortmund.
Born and raised in West Germany, Kovač was the long-standing captain of theCroatia national team until his retirement from international football in January 2009. Adefensive midfielder who was known for his passing and tackling skills, Kovač was, at the time of his retirement, the oldest player in the Croatian squad and had captained them at the2006 FIFA World Cup andUEFA Euro 2008. He has also enjoyed a high level of top club action, having spent most of his club career in the GermanBundesliga, including spells withHertha BSC,Bayer Leverkusen,Hamburger SV andBayern Munich.
He ended his playing career with Austrian clubRed Bull Salzburg, where he then took the non-playing role of the reserve team coach and eventually became assistant manager under team managerRicardo Moniz. In January 2013, Kovač took over theCroatia national under-21 team and in October 2013 he took over the Croatiasenior team following the dismissal ofIgor Štimac. Kovač managed Croatia at the2014 FIFA World Cup, then became head coach ofEintracht Frankfurt in 2016, winning the2018 DFB-Pokal Final with the club. At Bayern, Kovač won the domestic double in2019 after a strong ending to the season, but lost his job later in autumn. In summer 2020, he was appointed manager of Monaco, but was sacked on 1 January 2022.[3] He then returned to German football as manager of Wolfsburg from 2022 to 2024 before taking over at Borussia Dortmund in January 2025.
Kovač started training football as an eight-year old withRapide Wedding inBerlin.[4][5] After that, he joinedHertha Zehlendorf and soon became a member of the first team. He moved toHertha BSC in 1991 and started his professional career with the club that competed in the2. Bundesliga at the time.[5]
During his youth, Kovač in parallel with football practicedjudo, earning theblue belt. After finishing high school (gymnasium), he continued his education atFree University of Berlin. He pursued a degree inbusiness studies while playing for Hertha BSC. After eight semesters, he left university when he secured a contract withBayer Leverkusen.[5][6]
Kovač joinedHamburger SV in the summer of 1999 and spent two seasons with the club, making 55 Bundesliga appearances and scoring 12 goals in the Bundesliga.[7]
After the2006 FIFA World Cup, Kovač left Hertha after three seasons for AustrianBundesliga sideRed Bull Salzburg. He was a regular in the Salzburg team and also appeared in all of their four UEFA Champions League qualifiers in the summer of 2006. On 26 August 2006, he scored his first goal for Red Bull Salzburg in the Bundesliga, netting the second goal in their 4–0 home victory overWacker Tirol. He signed one more year until summer 2009 in May 2008. On 29 May 2009, Kovač left after three years with Red Bull and retired from professional football. He played his last match for Red Bull in a friendly against former club Bayern Munich; he was substituted off after the first 15 minutes.[8]
Kovač made his senior international debut in Croatia's friendly match againstMorocco on 11 December 1996 inCasablanca.[9][better source needed]
After Euro 2004, Kovač became the Croatia national team'scaptain and led the team through thequalifying campaign for the2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. He appeared in nine of ten qualifying matches and scored two goals, both in Croatia's 4–0 victory overIceland at home inZagreb. At the final tournament, he appeared in all three of Croatia's group matches, despite sustaining an injury which forced him to leave the pitch after 40 minutes of the team's opening match againstBrazil. Kovač scored the goal that put Croatia 2–1 up in the final group match againstAustralia.[10]
Kovač finally announced his international retirement on 7 January 2009, stating a desire that younger players should be given experience in the Croatia side.[11]
After his retirement from professional football, Kovač became coach of the reserve team ofRed Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Juniors, between 16 June 2009[12] to 7 April 2011.[13] In the 2009–10 season, he finished in sixth place[14] and were knocked out in the Austrian Cup in the second round in a shootout.[15] He was with the second team until 7 April 2011.[13] His final match was a 1–1 draw againstSV Seekirchen.[16] In 2011, he was promoted to being assistant coach of the first squad[17] together withRicardo Moniz as head coach. After Moniz resigned as a first-team coach in June 2012, Kovač was one of the favourites for taking his position. However, the position went toRoger Schmidt and Kovač subsequently left Salzburg.
On 21 January 2013,Igor Štimac, head coach of theCroatia national team, announced that Kovač, alongside his brotherRobert as assistant coach, would take over as theunder-21 team head coach.[18]
On 16 October 2013,Davor Šuker, president of theCroatian Football Federation, announced that Niko Kovač was appointedcaretaker manager of the Croatia senior team.[19] He replaced Štimac, who was sacked after Croatia scraped into theWorld Cup play-offs having taken only one point from their last fourqualifiers. However, one day later, in an inaugural press conference, Šuker stated HNS signed a two-year contract with Kovač and his staff including his brother Robert Kovač,Vatroslav Mihačić andGoran Lacković, until the end of Croatia'sUEFA Euro 2016 campaign.[20] His first two matches for Croatia were in the World Cup play-offs againstIceland.[21] Croatia managed to qualify for the2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after winning the play-off tie against Iceland 2–0 onaggregate.[21][22]At the World Cup, Croatia won 4–0 againstCameroon and lost 3–1 againstBrazil andMexico.[23] Croatia did not qualify from theirgroup. On 9 September 2015, HNS terminated Kovač's contract after Croatia lost 2–0 againstNorway in theUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.[24][25]
Kovač was appointed as head coach ofEintracht Frankfurt on 8 March 2016.[26] He made his managerial debut for Eintracht in a 3–0 loss againstBorussia Mönchengladbach.[27] The club only finished the season in 16th place, requiring them to play in the relegation play-offs against1. FC Nürnberg.[28] After drawing the first leg 1–1 at home,[29] Kovač ensured Eintracht's survival in the Bundesliga afterHaris Seferovic's goal won the second leg 1–0.[30] Kovač received a Fair Play Prize from theDOSB for his gesture of comforting Nürnberg's players after their defeat.[31]
In the2016–17 season, Eintracht managed to finish mid-table in eleventh position, as well as notably reaching the2017 DFB-Pokal Final, club's first final since2006, where Eintracht lost 1–2 againstBorussia Dortmund.[32] In the2017–18 season, Eintracht competed for a place in European competition for the following season.[33][34] Kovač has typically used a 3–4–2–1 formation with emphasis on defensive stability and wing play.[35][36] He took Eintracht to the2018 DFB-Pokal Final, the second in succession for the club, where he beat his future employer, Bayern Munich. With that victory, Kovač led Eintracht to its first trophy since 1988.[37][38] He finished with a record of 38 wins, 20 draws and 33 losses in 91 matches.[39]Adi Hütter became his successor.
On 13 April 2018,Bayern Munich announced that Kovač would succeedJupp Heynckes as head coach of the club for the2018–19 season, with a three-year contract lasting until 30 June 2021.[33][40] Kovač's brother, Robert, served as assistant coach to him.[41] Kovač had a contract with Frankfurt until 30 June 2018 and Bayern had to pay a release clause in his contract reported to be around €2.2 million.[33] Kovač is just the fourth former player to manage Bayern Munich afterSøren Lerby,Franz Beckenbauer andJürgen Klinsmann.[42] Kovač was the third Croatian to manage Bayern afterZlatko Čajkovski andBranko Zebec.[42]
On 12 August, Kovač won his first match as coach of Bayern 5–0 in theGerman Super Cup against his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt.[43] He won his first Bundesliga game in charge as Bayern defeated 1899 Hoffenheim 3–1 at home on 25 August.[44]
On 25 May 2019, Kovač led Bayern to a league and cup double when Bayern defeatedRB Leipzig 3–0 in the2019 DFB-Pokal Final. It was Kovač's second consecutive cup victory as he became the first coach sinceFelix Magath in 2005 and 2006 to win back-to-back cup titles. Kovač also became the first person to win a league and cup double both as a player and coach in German football.[45] On 1 October, Bayern defeatedTottenham Hotspur 7–2 in theChampions League, withSerge Gnabry scoring four goals. It was Bayern's second highest victory inEuropean competitions, only behind their 7–1 victory againstRoma in October 2014.[46] On 3 November, Kovač left by mutual agreement after a 5–1 loss to his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt.[47][48]
On 19 July 2020, Kovač was appointed as head coach atLigue 1 clubMonaco.[49] In his first game as Monaco coach on 23 August, Kovač secured a 2–2 draw after being two goals down againstReims.[50] On 20 November, Monaco beatFrench champions andChampions League finalistsParis Saint-Germain 3–2 after falling behind 0–2.[51] On 21 February 2021, he defeated Paris Saint-Germain once again, this time 2–0. It was the first time since March 2016 that Monaco won atParc des Princes.[52][53] Kovač was subsequently widely praised by French sports media.[54][55] On 19 May, Monaco lost 2–0 to Paris Saint-Germain in theCoupe de France Final.[56] On 1 January 2022, Monaco announced the departure of Kovač.[57]
VfL Wolfsburg announced the appointment of Kovač on 24 May 2022, marking his return to theBundesliga after three years.[58] He was sacked in March 2024.[59]
Kovač signed an 18-month deal withBorussia Dortmund on 29 January 2025.[60] Kovač took charge with the team in 11th place.[61] Under his leadership, Dortmund reached theChampions League quarter-finals, where they were eliminated byBarcelona.[62] On the final matchday, the club climbed to fourth, securingChampions League qualification for the next season.[63][64] On 26 August 2025, he extended his contract until 2027.[65]
Throughout his career at various clubs, Kovac has implemented a mix of 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations with a clear focus on how the team plays without possession. He works on increasing his team's intensity behind the ball so they are able to defend in a compact, mid-high press to force their opponents wide. As soon as they would win the ball, they make use of their quick players in fast transitions.[66]
Kovač was born on 15 October 1971 inWedding,West Berlin, to aBosnian Croat family hailing fromLivno,Bosnia and Herzegovina. His parents, Mato and Ivka, emigrated fromSFR Yugoslavia to West Germany in 1970 as part of thegastarbeiter program. He has two younger siblings, brotherRobert and sister Nikolina.[4][5] Kovač is also a German national, thus eligible to represent Germany, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina at international level; he opted for Croatia.[42]
Kovač married his primary school sweetheart in 1999. They have a daughter named Laura.[4] Kovač is aRoman Catholic. He generally lives a quiet family life, and considers a family of great value and tries to convey that to his players.[6][67]
I am Niko Kovač, captain of the Croatia national football team. I was born and I am living in diaspora. I look forward to every appearance under our flag and national anthem. My brother Robert, as well! Now, some people say we should not have a right to vote. And that's why – HDZ and DrIvo Sanader!
In 2007, Kovač appeared inCroatian Democratic Union (HDZ)'s campaign video forthat year's parliamentary election. The video focuses onCroatian diaspora's right to vote, and depicts Kovač talking about his connection with his homeland. One of the lines from the video, "Moj brat Robert, također!" (My brotherRobert, as well), entered Croatianpopular culture and is frequently quoted by the people and the media in the country when referring to the brothers.[68]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hertha Zehlendorf | 1990–91 | Oberliga Berlin | 25 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 7 | ||||
| Hertha BSC II | 1990–91 | Oberliga Berlin | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||
| Hertha BSC | 1991–92 | 2. Bundesliga Nord | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| 1992–93 | 2. Bundesliga | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 45 | 1 | ||||
| 1993–94 | 2. Bundesliga | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 1 | ||||
| 1994–95 | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 2 | ||||
| 1995–96 | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 11 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 11 | ||||
| Total | 148 | 15 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | 154 | 15 | |||||
| Bayer Leverkusen | 1996–97 | Bundesliga | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 33 | 3 | |||
| 1997–98 | Bundesliga | 18 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Bundesliga | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | — | 34 | 4 | ||
| Total | 77 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | 96 | 9 | |||
| Hamburger SV | 1999–2000 | Bundesliga | 30 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 8 | |||
| 2000–01 | Bundesliga | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9[c] | 1 | — | 36 | 5 | ||
| Total | 55 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | 67 | 13 | |||
| Bayern Munich | 2001–02 | Bundesliga | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 26 | 3 |
| 2002–03 | Bundesliga | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 1 | — | 25 | 2 | ||
| Total | 34 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 5 | ||
| Hertha BSC | 2003–04 | Bundesliga | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05 | Bundesliga | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 31 | 4 | ||||
| 2005–06 | Bundesliga | 28 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | — | 36 | 4 | ||
| Total | 75 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 88 | 9 | |||
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2006–07 | Austrian Bundesliga | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 6[c] | 0 | — | 35 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | Austrian Bundesliga | 25 | 3 | — | — | 4[c] | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Austrian Bundesliga | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[b] | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 65 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | — | 79 | 9 | ||||
| Career total | 491 | 63 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 572 | 68 | ||
| Source:[69] | ||||||||||||||
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Final | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 March 2000 | Maksimir,Zagreb |  Germany | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 5 September 2001 | Olimpico,Serravalle |  San Marino | 1–0 | 4–0 | World Cup 2002 Qualifying |
| 3 | 8 May 2002 | PMFC,Pécs |  Hungary | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 11 June 2003 | A. Le Coq Arena,Tallinn |  Estonia | 1–0 | 1–0 | Euro 2004 Qualifying |
| 5 | 6 September 2003 | Comunal,Aixovall |  Andorra | 1–0 | 3–0 | |
| 6 | 21 June 2004 | Estádio da Luz,Lisbon |  England | 1–0 | 2–4 | Euro 2004 |
| 7–8 | 26 March 2005 | Maksimir,Zagreb |  Iceland | 1–0 | 4–0 | World Cup 2006 Qualifying |
3–0 | ||||||
| 9 | 22 June 2006 | Gottlieb-Daimler,Stuttgart |  Australia | 2–1 | 2–2 | World Cup 2006 |
| 10–11 | 22 August 2007 | Koševo,Sarajevo |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3–2 | 5–3 | Friendly |
5–3 | ||||||
| 12 | 24 May 2008 | Kantrida,Rijeka |  Moldova | 1–0 | 1–0 | |
| 13 | 31 May 2008 | Szusza Ferenc,Budapest | Hungary | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| 14 | 6 September 2008 | Maksimir,Zagreb |  Kazakhstan | 1–0 | 3–0 | World Cup 2010 Qualifying |
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Croatia U21 | 21 January 2013 | 16 October 2013 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 5 | +13 | 071.43 | [70] |
| Croatia | 16 October 2013 | 9 September 2015 | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 36 | 16 | +20 | 052.63 | [21][23][25] |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 8 March 2016 | 30 June 2018[39] | 91 | 38 | 20 | 33 | 111 | 108 | +3 | 041.76 | [39] |
| Bayern Munich | 1 July 2018[33] | 3 November 2019 | 65 | 45 | 12 | 8 | 169 | 73 | +96 | 069.23 | [71] |
| Monaco | 19 July 2020 | 1 January 2022 | 74 | 42 | 16 | 16 | 131 | 76 | +55 | 056.76 | [72] |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 24 May 2022 | 17 March 2024 | 66 | 23 | 17 | 26 | 96 | 93 | +3 | 034.85 | |
| Borussia Dortmund | 2 February 2025 | present | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 87 | 53 | +34 | 057.14 | |
| Total | 365 | 187 | 81 | 97 | 648 | 424 | +224 | 051.23 | |||
Bayern Munich
Red Bull Salzburg
Eintracht Frankfurt[76]
Bayern Munich[76]
Monaco[76]
Croatia squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
