Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that head coach Niko Kovac has signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2027. The announcement was made on Tuesday as the Bundesliga side reaffirmed its confidence in the Croatian tactician.
Kovac, a former manager of Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and AS Monaco, originally joined Dortmund on an 18-month deal in January 2025 when the team sat 11th in the league table.
Despite slipping to 13th at one point, he masterminded an impressive turnaround, guiding the Black and Yellows to 22 points from a possible 24 in their final run of fixtures. The late surge secured Dortmund a fourth-place finish and a coveted Champions League spot.
Speaking after signing the extension, Kovac said: “With honest work, clear decisions, and great enthusiasm, we want to help Borussia Dortmund return to our former strength. We still have a lot to do together.”
Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl praised Kovac’s leadership, stating that he “approaches every game with conviction, intensity and passion,” adding that the club is confident about building on last season’s strong finish.
Kovac has long been regarded as a disciplinarian, emphasizing fitness, work ethic, and team structure. His managerial career highlights include winning the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2018 and claiming a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double with Bayern Munich in 2018–19.
Before moving into management, Kovac enjoyed a successful playing career, representing Croatia 83 times and scoring 14 goals while featuring for top clubs such as Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Hamburg.
Dortmund’s 2025–26 campaign, however, began on a frustrating note with a 3-3 draw against St. Pauli, where the side conceded twice late on and finished with 10 men. Still, with Kovac now secured until 2027, the club is optimistic about stability and long-term progress under his guidance.
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