Niko Kovač

Niko Kovač, born on October fifteenth, nineteen seventy-one, is a distinguished figure in the world of football, both as a former player and a current manager. He is currently at the helm of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, showcasing his expertise in the sport.

Raised in West Germany, Kovač made a significant impact on the international stage as the long-standing captain of the Croatia national team, a role he held until his retirement from international football in January two thousand nine. Known for his exceptional skills as a defensive midfielder, particularly in passing and tackling, he was the oldest player in the Croatian squad at the time of his retirement and led the team during the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.

Kovač's club career was predominantly spent in the German Bundesliga, where he played for notable teams such as Hertha BSC, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, and Bayern Munich. He concluded his playing days with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg, transitioning into coaching as the reserve team coach and later as assistant manager under Ricardo Moniz.

In January two thousand thirteen, Kovač took charge of the Croatia national under-21 team, and by October of the same year, he was appointed as the head coach of the senior national team following Igor Štimac's dismissal. He led Croatia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup before moving on to manage Eintracht Frankfurt in two thousand sixteen, where he achieved victory in the 2018 DFB-Pokal Final. His tenure at Bayern Munich saw him secure the domestic double in two thousand nineteen, although he parted ways with the club later that year. After a brief stint at Monaco, he returned to Germany to manage Wolfsburg from two thousand twenty-two to two thousand twenty-four, before taking over at Borussia Dortmund in January two thousand twenty-five.