Since replacing Nuri Sahin in February 2025, Niko Kovač has dragged Borussia Dortmund from 11th in the Bundesliga to the UEFA Champions League, followed by a second-place finish in 2025/26. Now, Dortmund find themselves unbeaten at the top of the Bundesliga…
A contract extension – as hinted by CEO Carsten Cramer – for Kovač only feels like a matter of time. What’s more the board are making the right call. Although Dortmund remain without a major trophy since 2021, the real question is not whether Kovač is good enough to keep the club in the top two. It is whether he can take it past that.
A few months before Kovač took over the club, it was in a Champions League final against Real Madrid. A game they could have won if it wasn’t for poor finishing. That season under Edin Terzic, the team only finished fifth in the league, which was understandably disappointing, but they had an adventurous run in Europe’s premier competition.
BVB recorded famous wins against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in their run to Wembley. This was reminiscent of Jürgen Klopp’s 2012/13 side, which also reached the final at Wembley. Alongside two Bundesliga titles, that moment is one of the highs of Klopp’s side, before he left two years later.
While the situation is different now and the 2023/24 team is not comparable to the star-studded squad of a decade earlier, it begs the question of whether the team will reach those heights again.
Coaches have come and gone, but there always seems to be a satisfaction in finishing second and participating in the Champions League. Of course, May 2023 was the moment the team nearly reached the promised land. However, a catastrophic performance against Mainz on the last game of the season meant that the trophy slipped right through the fingers.
Is Niko Kovač the right coach to bring trophies back to Borussia Dortmund?
The strong start to the season and the smart recruitment in the summer suggest that the club is building something solid going forward. Things seem to be going smoothly at the moment, but it will also matter how the side reacts to setbacks in the future. The role Kovač plays in that is crucial.
Speaking to Kicker on their time working together, Kovač’s former teammate and colleague Fredi Bobic stated: “What impressed me was that he’s always exploring new avenues, seeking information and inspiration. I remember when he was in Frankfurt, he brought in nutritionists and changed the team’s diet. It was almost too much; in the end, it felt like the players were only eating grass and no meat at all.
“That made an Argentinian like David Abraham a bit aggressive (laughs). But that’s also part of who he is: he can admit his mistakes, which is a sign of his good character. He can also apologise if he’s been too emotional. His brother Robert is good for him in that respect; he’s the more balanced of the two.”
Bobic also stated that Kovač’s time in Monaco helped him in various ways. “He’s become even calmer, seems even more composed. Leading such a top club in France to the Champions League has given him further confidence in finding his own way, for example, in addressing the team,” he added.
“Now in Dortmund, he’s at peace with himself. He knows what he’s capable of; he knows how to express himself; he doesn’t get emotional. That’s very composed, and I find it incredibly appealing.”
Kovač reportedly enjoys a good relationship with Lars Ricken, who has agreed to stay at Dortmund. He has the bosses’ trust, and the players are performing well under him, but the fanbase is divided regarding his style of play.
For a side that used to play fast and exciting football, Kovač’s cautious approach has been questioned. This is especially true when it comes to games in which he lost points because he chose to defend after going a goal up rather than remain on the front foot.
Few will question Kovač’s playing style as long as his side keeps winning. Following the 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, Dortmund have won all their games in all competitions and sit top of the Bundesliga. Now the question remains if Kovač will be able to keep the momentum going.
So does Kovač deserve an extension? Yes. He has restored stability, earned the trust of the board and Lars Ricken, and shown the calm that Bobic praises. Few coaches could have turned that 2025 season around the way he did. But a new deal should come with a new standard. Second place and Champions League qualification kept the club satisfied for years, but that shouldn’t be enough now. If his cautious streak keeps costing points in games Dortmund should be winning, the fans who question his style will be proven right. Extend him, but judge him on silverware, not survival.
GGFN | Brook Genene
