DORTMUND: Former Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac will take over as Borussia Dortmund boss until 2026, sporting director Lars Ricken confirmed on Wednesday.

Kovac will replace Nuri Sahin, who was sacked last week, with Dortmund since led by interim coach Mike Tullberg.

“I can confirm we have reached an agreement (with Kovac),” Ricken told DAZN after Dortmund’s 3-1 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

“Mike Tullberg will lead the team on Saturday (in the league against Heidenheim), before Niko takes over on Sunday.”

Earlier on Wednesday, German daily Bild repor­ted Kovac and Dortmund had reached a “basic agr­eement” on the deal, with the former Croatia international unwilling to only agree to take over until the end of the current season.

Kovac, who left his last job as VfL Wolfsburg coach in March 2024, won the German Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt against Bayern in 2018, before taking the top job in Munich weeks after.

At Bayern, he won a league and cup double in 2018-19, but was let go by the club midway through the following season.

Dortmund sit 11th in the Bundesliga, 22 points behind leaders Bayern.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2025