Niko KovaÃÂ (; born 15 October 1971) is a professional football manager and former player. He is the manager of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
Born and raised in West Germany, KovaÃÂ was the long-standing captain of the Croatia national team until his retirement from international football in January 2009. A defensive midfielder who was known for his passing and tackling skills, KovaÃÂ was, at the time of his retirement, the oldest player in the Croatian squad and had captained them at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. He has also enjoyed a high level of top club action, having spent most of his club career in the German Bundesliga, including spells with Hertha BSC, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV and Bayern Munich.
He ended his playing career with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, where he then took the non-playing role of the reserve team coach and eventually became assistant manager under team manager Ricardo Moniz. In January 2013, Kovaàtook over the Croatia national under-21 team and in October 2013 he took over the Croatia senior team following the dismissal of Igor à  timac. Kovaàmanaged Croatia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, then became head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016, winning the 2018 DFB-Pokal Final with the club. At Bayern, Kovaàwon the domestic double in 2019 after a strong ending to the season, but lost his job later in autumn. In summer 2020, he was appointed manager of Monaco, but was sacked on 1 January 2022. He then returned to German football as manager of Wolfsburg from 2022 to 2024 before taking over at Borussia Dortmund in January 2025.
KovaÃÂ started training football as an eight-year old with Rapide Wedding in Berlin. After that, he joined Hertha Zehlendorf and soon became a member of the first team. He moved to Hertha BSC in 1991 and started his professional career with the club that competed in the 2. Bundesliga at the time.
During his youth, KovaÃÂ in parallel with football practiced judo, earning the blue belt. After finishing high school (gymnasium), he continued his education at Free University of Berlin. He pursued a degree in business studies while playing for Hertha BSC. After eight semesters, he left university when he secured a contract with Bayer Leverkusen.
KovaÃÂ joined Hamburger SV in the summer of 1999 and spent two seasons with the club, making 55 Bundesliga appearances and scoring 12 goals in the Bundesliga.
After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Kovaàleft Hertha after three seasons for Austrian Bundesliga side Red Bull Salzburg. He was a regular in the Salzburg team and also appeared in all of their four UEFA Champions League qualifiers in the summer of 2006. On 26 August 2006, he scored his first goal for Red Bull Salzburg in the Bundesliga, netting the second goal in their 4âÂÂ0 home victory over Wacker Tirol. He signed one more year until summer 2009 in May 2008. On 29 May 2009, Kovaàleft after three years with Red Bull and retired from professional football. He played his last match for Red Bull in a friendly against former club Bayern Munich; he was substituted off after the first 15 minutes.
KovaÃÂ made his senior international debut in Croatia's friendly match against Morocco on 11 December 1996 in Casablanca.
After Euro 2004, Kovaàbecame the Croatia national team's captain and led the team through the qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. He appeared in nine of ten qualifying matches and scored two goals, both in Croatia's 4âÂÂ0 victory over Iceland at home in Zagreb. At the final tournament, he appeared in all three of Croatia's group matches, despite sustaining an injury which forced him to leave the pitch after 40 minutes of the team's opening match against Brazil. Kovaàscored the goal that put Croatia 2âÂÂ1 up in the final group match against Australia.
KovaÃÂ finally announced his international retirement on 7 January 2009, stating a desire that younger players should be given experience in the Croatia side.
After his retirement from professional football, Kovaàbecame coach of the reserve team of Red Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Juniors, between 16 June 2009 to 7 April 2011. In the 2009âÂÂ10 season, he finished in sixth place and were knocked out in the Austrian Cup in the second round in a shootout. He was with the second team until 7 April 2011. His final match was a 1âÂÂ1 draw against SV Seekirchen. In 2011, he was promoted to being assistant coach of the first squad together with Ricardo Moniz as head coach. After Moniz resigned as a first-team coach in June 2012, Kovaàwas one of the favourites for taking his position. However, the position went to Roger Schmidt and Kovaàsubsequently left Salzburg.
On 21 January 2013, Igor à  timac, head coach of the Croatia national team, announced that KovaÃÂ, alongside his brother Robert as assistant coach, would take over as the under-21 team head coach.
On 16 October 2013, Davor à  uker, president of the Croatian Football Federation, announced that Niko Kovaàwas appointed caretaker manager of the Croatia senior team. He replaced à  timac, who was sacked after Croatia scraped into the World Cup play-offs having taken only one point from their last four qualifiers. However, one day later, in an inaugural press conference, à  uker stated HNS signed a two-year contract with Kovaàand his staff including his brother Robert KovaÃÂ, Vatroslav MihaÃÂiàand Goran LackoviÃÂ, until the end of Croatia's UEFA Euro 2016 campaign. His first two matches for Croatia were in the World Cup play-offs against Iceland. Croatia managed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after winning the play-off tie against Iceland 2âÂÂ0 on aggregate. At the World Cup, Croatia won 4âÂÂ0 against Cameroon and lost 3âÂÂ1 against Brazil and Mexico. Croatia did not qualify from their group. On 9 September 2015, HNS terminated KovaÃÂ's contract after Croatia lost 2âÂÂ0 against Norway in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.
Kovaàwas appointed as head coach of Eintracht Frankfurt on 8 March 2016. He made his managerial debut for Eintracht in a 3âÂÂ0 loss against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The club only finished the season in 16th place, requiring them to play in the relegation play-offs against 1. FC Nürnberg. After drawing the first leg 1âÂÂ1 at home, Kovaàensured Eintracht's survival in the Bundesliga after Haris Seferovic's goal won the second leg 1âÂÂ0. Kovaàreceived a Fair Play Prize from the DOSB for his gesture of comforting Nürnberg's players after their defeat.
In the 2016âÂÂ17 season, Eintracht managed to finish mid-table in eleventh position, as well as notably reaching the 2017 DFB-Pokal Final, club's first final since 2006, where Eintracht lost 1âÂÂ2 against Borussia Dortmund. In the 2017âÂÂ18 season, Eintracht competed for a place in European competition for the following season. Kovaàhas typically used a 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ2âÂÂ1 formation with emphasis on defensive stability and wing play. He took Eintracht to the 2018 DFB-Pokal Final, the second in succession for the club, where he beat his future employer, Bayern Munich. With that victory, Kovaàled Eintracht to its first trophy since 1988. He finished with a record of 38 wins, 20 draws and 33 losses in 91 matches. Adi Hütter became his successor.
On 13 April 2018, Bayern Munich announced that Kovaàwould succeed Jupp Heynckes as head coach of the club for the 2018âÂÂ19 season, with a three-year contract lasting until 30 June 2021. KovaÃÂ's brother, Robert, served as assistant coach to him. Kovaàhad a contract with Frankfurt until 30 June 2018 and Bayern had to pay a release clause in his contract reported to be around â¬2.2 million. Kovaàis just the fourth former player to manage Bayern Munich after Søren Lerby, Franz Beckenbauer and Jürgen Klinsmann. Kovaàwas the third Croatian to manage Bayern after Zlatko ÃÂajkovski and Branko Zebec.
On 12 August, Kovaàwon his first match as coach of Bayern 5âÂÂ0 in the German Super Cup against his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt. He won his first Bundesliga game in charge as Bayern defeated 1899 Hoffenheim 3âÂÂ1 at home on 25 August.
On 25 May 2019, Kovaàled Bayern to a league and cup double when Bayern defeated RB Leipzig 3âÂÂ0 in the 2019 DFB-Pokal Final. It was KovaÃÂ's second consecutive cup victory as he became the first coach since Felix Magath in 2005 and 2006 to win back-to-back cup titles. Kovaàalso became the first person to win a league and cup double both as a player and coach in German football. On 1 October, Bayern defeated Tottenham Hotspur 7âÂÂ2 in the Champions League, with Serge Gnabry scoring four goals. It was Bayern's second highest victory in European competitions, only behind their 7âÂÂ1 victory against Roma in October 2014. On 3 November, Kovaàleft by mutual agreement after a 5âÂÂ1 loss to his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt.
On 19 July 2020, Kovaàwas appointed as head coach at Ligue 1 club Monaco. In his first game as Monaco coach on 23 August, Kovaàsecured a 2âÂÂ2 draw after being two goals down against Reims. On 20 November, Monaco beat French champions and Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain 3âÂÂ2 after falling behind 0âÂÂ2. On 21 February 2021, he defeated Paris Saint-Germain once again, this time 2âÂÂ0. It was the first time since March 2016 that Monaco won at Parc des Princes. Kovaàwas subsequently widely praised by French sports media. On 19 May, Monaco lost 2âÂÂ0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France Final. On 1 January 2022, Monaco announced the departure of KovaÃÂ.
VfL Wolfsburg announced the appointment of KovaÃÂ on 24 May 2022, marking his return to the Bundesliga after three years. He was sacked in March 2024.
KovaÃÂ signed an 18-month deal with Borussia Dortmund on 29 January 2025. KovaÃÂ took charge with the team in 11th place. Under his leadership, Dortmund reached the Champions League quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Barcelona. On the final matchday, the club climbed to fourth, securing Champions League qualification for the next season. On 26 August 2025, he extended his contract until 2027.
Throughout his career at various clubs, Kovac has implemented a mix of 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations with a clear focus on how the team plays without possession. He works on increasing his team's intensity behind the ball so they are able to defend in a compact, mid-high press to force their opponents wide. As soon as they would win the ball, they make use of their quick players in fast transitions.
KovaÃÂ was born on 15 October 1971 in Wedding, West Berlin, to a Bosnian Croat family hailing from Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His parents, Mato and Ivka, emigrated from SFR Yugoslavia to West Germany in 1970 as part of the gastarbeiter program. He has two younger siblings, brother Robert and sister Nikolina. KovaÃÂ is also a German national, thus eligible to represent Germany, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina at international level; he opted for Croatia.
KovaÃÂ married his primary school sweetheart in 1999. They have a daughter named Laura. KovaÃÂ is a Roman Catholic. He generally lives a quiet family life, and considers a family of great value and tries to convey that to his players.
In 2007, KovaÃÂ appeared in Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ)'s campaign video for that year's parliamentary election. The video focuses on Croatian diaspora's right to vote, and depicts KovaÃÂ talking about his connection with his homeland. One of the lines from the video, "" (My brother Robert, as well), entered Croatian popular culture and is frequently quoted by the people and the media in the country when referring to the brothers.
Bayern Munich
Red Bull Salzburg
Eintracht Frankfurt
Bayern Munich
Monaco