Kovac promises 'heart and willingness' after Dortmund appointment

Niko Kovac was officially named Borussia Dortmund’s new head coach on Thursday, following the sacking of Nuri Sahin after a poor start to 2025.

Kovac, who previously managed Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg, and Monaco, signed a contract until June 2026. The club emphasized his teams' energy, determination, and strong team spirit, qualities Dortmund hopes to reinstate. Kovac, who will be joined by his brother Robert and Filip Tapalovic as assistants, is tasked with improving Dortmund’s 11th-place standing in the Bundesliga and advancing in the Champions League.

He pledged to bring “determination, heart, and willingness” to the team. Kovac's first match in charge will be against Stuttgart next week, with interim coach Mike Tullberg overseeing Saturday’s game against Heidenheim.