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Borussia Dortmund name former Bayern Munich boss as their new manager - as Erik ten Hag misses out on the role

By: dailymail Posted On: January 30, 2025 View: 55

Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have announced their new manager
Erik ten Hag had been linked with vacant role after being sacked by Man United
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Published: 05:00 EST, 30 January 2025 | Updated: 06:00 EST, 30 January 2025

Borussia Dortmund have officially unveiled former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac as the club's new manager.

The club have been in search of a new head coach since Nuri Sahin was sacked last week following a dismal start to the campaign.

Sahin led the club to the Champions League final earlier this year but has struggled this season, with three consecutive league defeats leaving the club in the bottom half of the Bundesliga.

Youth coach Mike Tullberg took charge of the club's draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday and their win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Erik ten Hag had been heavily linked with the role, with the former Manchester United boss understood to have held talks with the club.

However, Ten Hag's desire to wait until the summer before returning to the dugout reportedly left him out of contention.

The 53-year-old previously managed rivals Bayern Munich, and was most recently in charge at fellow Bundesliga side Wolfsburg

Erik ten Hag had held discussions over the role, but is intent on waiting until the summer to return to the dugout

Welcome, Niko! ✍️
Borussia Dortmund has appointed Niko Kovač as their new head coach. The 53-year-old, born in Berlin, has signed a contract with BVB until June 30, 2026, and will officially take charge next Sunday after the club’s Bundesliga match against Heidenheim. pic.twitter.com/O6hPBoCxn2
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) January 30, 2025

Instead, Dortmund moved for Kovac, who played for several Bundesliga clubs before embarking on a career in management upon retiring from football in 2009.

A statement from the club revealed the 53-year-old has agreed a deal that will keep him at the Signal Iduna Park until June 2026.

After spells with the Croatian national team and Eintracht Frankfurt, Kovac became Bayern boss in the summer of 2018.

Kovac won a league and cup double in his first season with the Bavarian giants, before he was sacked following a poor start to his second campaign.

He then spent two years in Ligue 1 with Monaco, and led the Monegasque club to the final of the Coupe de France in his first season in charge.

Kovac was most recently in charge of fellow Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg before he was sacked by the club in March 2024.

Despite victory on Wednesday seeing the club qualify for the Champions League knockout phase playoffs next month, Dortmund are 11th in the Bundesliga, five points adrift of the European places.