Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovač signs contract extension
Borussia Dortmund have rewarded Niko Kovač for his strong start as head coach with a new deal through to summer 2027.
Dortmund were 11th in the Bundesliga table and had been eliminated from the DFB Cup in the second round when Kovač was installed as Nuri Şahin's successor on 30 January 2025, initially on an 18-month contract.
However, the Black-Yellows turned their season around under the former Croatia, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, Monaco and Wolfsburg boss to finish fourth and secure a place in the UEFA Champions League.
BVB also reached the quarter-finals of the 2024/25 Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup 2025, providing the 53-year-old with a solid platform to build on in his first full campaign in charge of the five-time Bundesliga winners.
"We're very happy about this extension with Niko and his coaching team. This clarity is important for everyone in order to focus fully on the season," said sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
"We strive for maximum success and want to go into every match with conviction, intensity and passion. Niko demands those values every day. We believe we'll continue on the successful path we had at the end of last season."
Managing director Lars Ricken also underlined the progress made in the last few months: "He is a football expert with clear principles, fundamentally honest, straightforward in his communication and rewards performance. Under his disciplined leadership, we have returned to the path of success, stabilised our defensive work, scored significantly more goals than before and returned to playing attractive football."
Watch: Dortmund celebrate top-four turnaround
For his part, Kovač says he is relishing the challenge of competing on all three fronts in 2025/26 and bringing a first piece of silverware to Dortmund since their 2020/21 DFB Cup triumph under Edin Terzić.
"We've achived a lot together in the last six months and got Borussia back on track on the pitch," said the Croatian, who won the DFB Cup as Frankfurt head coach and a domestic double as a player and coach with Bayern.
"The discussions over the past few weeks have further strengthened my conviction that we can continue on our current path with lasting success. With honest work, clear decisions and great enthusiasm, we want to help Borussia regain its former strength. We still have a lot to achieve together here."
Dortmund kicked off the 2025/26 season with a 3-3 draw at St. Pauli, meaning Kovač's record from 27 competitive fixtures in charge reads 16 wins, five draws and six defeats.
Their first home match of the campaign comes this Sunday against Union Berlin.
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