Nearly joined Tottenham? BVB boss Kovac responds to rumours | OneFootball

About four and a half years ago, Niko Kovac was on the verge of taking a job with Tottenham Hotspur. Why the current BVB coach turned down the offer and why England could still be an option for him.

Niko Kovac almost continued his coaching career in England. According to a report by Sky, the current Borussia Dortmund coach was at the top of Tottenham Hotspur’s wish list about four and a half years ago. At that time, the Croatian was coaching AS Monaco and led the club to the cup final in France.

The Spurs had just parted ways with star coach José Mourinho and were looking for a long-term solution. Tottenham specifically approached Kovac, but the coach declined. The decisive factor was his personal principles: Kovac did not want to terminate his contract in Monaco prematurely. Ironically, his stint with the French first division club ended just a few months later anyway.

Today, the situation is different. Kovac is under contract with BVB until 2027 and has impressed since taking over. Dortmund is at the top of the Bundesliga and is also on track in the Champions League. An early departure is currently not an issue—even though the coach continues to enjoy a high reputation in England.

Manchester United and Chelsea Interested in BVB Coach Kovac

According to sources close to the coach, several Premier League clubs remain attentive. Kovac is reportedly appreciated at Manchester United, and Chelsea FC is said to have discussed his name internally as well. Ahead of the Champions League clash between Dortmund and Tottenham on Tuesday (9 p.m.), however, the BVB coach deliberately chose to leave the past aside.

When asked by Sky Sport, Kovac responded clearly—focusing entirely on the upcoming match: “Honestly, you’ve caught me off guard. We have a Champions League match tomorrow, so I can’t talk about the past or the future. I am here, where I am, and I am totally happy. Tomorrow we have an important game and we want to put in a solid performance. If we can take three points here, things will look good. We can discuss what happened back then at the end of the season.”

One thing is clear: Kovac feels comfortable in Dortmund and is fully integrated. But the fact that his name continues to appear on the lists of top English clubs shows the reputation the 54-year-old has earned internationally with his clear, pragmatic approach.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.