Borussia Dortmund have extended the contract of head coach Niko Kovač until 2029, in addition to his two assistant coaches: Robert Kovač and Filip Tapalovic.
Lars Ricken, Managing Director of Sports, explained: “With Niko Kovač, we’ve been on a very good path since he took office a little over a year and a half ago. He has consistently developed the team and is highly regarded within our club.”
When Kovač took over in February 2025, the club was struggling in 11th place in the league. He quickly transformed the team and led them to UEFA Champions League qualification in the 2024/25 season. Last season’s second-place league finish with 73 points was also the fifth-highest points tally in the club’s history.
Sporting Director Ole Book also praised Kovač after the announcement, stating: “A trusting relationship has developed between Niko and me since my first day here. Niko works with extreme meticulousness, and his experience gives him a calmness that benefits the team. We’re in touch almost daily and are working on taking the next steps with the team to ensure BVB’s success.”
Kovač will now be expected to take the team to the next step after signing his contract extension. He has stabilized the team, but questions remain about his style of play and whether he can truly challenge Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
After the announcement, Kovač said: “Together, we’ve set a clear course for development and laid important foundations for the future. We want to build on that. We have a clear vision of how we play soccer, how we perform as a team, and what it takes to achieve our goals. The key is that we don’t rest on our laurels, but work every day to get better. We see great potential and are convinced that, together, with full conviction and great determination, we can still achieve a great deal.”
The announcement follows BVB’s disappointing draw against Werder Bremen on Friday, in which they let a 2-0 lead slip in the last minute. The Black and Yellows will face Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
GGFN | Brook Genene
