Borussia Dortmund have secured the future of manager Niko Kovač, announcing a contract extension through to June 30, 2029, as a reward for steering the team back into contention and boasting the highest points-per-game ratio of any coach in the club’s Bundesliga history.
The decision includes the continuation of his backroom staff, assistant coaches Robert Kovač and Filip Tapalović, allowing Dortmund to maintain the technical setup that has restored stability to the club since February 2025, when Kovač took charge with the team languishing in 11th place.
At the time, the Croatian manager orchestrated a stunning revival that culminated in Champions League qualification on the final matchday, earning him an initial contract extension through to 2027. However, continued sporting progress persuaded the hierarchy to add an extra two years.
Last season, Dortmund finished as Bundesliga runners-up with 73 points—the fifth-highest tally in club history. Furthermore, Kovač collected 114 points across his first 53 league matches, averaging 2.15 points per game, the best record of any manager to helm the team.
Sporting Director Lars Ricken said: “The team has developed continuously under Niko, and this extension sends a clear message of stability and continuity.”
Meanwhile, Kovač stated: “We have a clear vision of how we want to play, and we know that we must work hard every single day to become even better.”
The 54-year-old boasts an extensive coaching resume that began with Croatia’s U21 and senior national teams, before rescuing Eintracht Frankfurt from relegation and guiding them to the 2018 DFB-Pokal at the expense of Bayern Munich.
He subsequently moved to Bayern, winning the domestic double in 2019, before leading AS Monaco to a third-place finish in France and a cup final, prior to a spell at VfL Wolfsburg and his eventual arrival at Dortmund. The new deal confirms that the club no longer view him as a temporary firefighter, but as the architect of a project extending to the end of the decade.
