Will Niko Kovač stay on at Dortmund? BVB's plan | OneFootball

After the successful season just gone, Borussia Dortmund apparently want to continue working with Niko Kovac for the long term. At the same time, the BVB coach is setting the course for the new campaign and defining clear goals.

Borussia Dortmund and Niko Kovac are likely to extend their partnership for the long term in the coming months. Although the 54-year-old’s contract still runs until 2027, there are currently many signs pointing to an early extension. According to BILD, the new contract is set to be signed “by autumn at the latest.”

That would mean BVB are rewarding their successful work with the Croatian at an early stage. Kovac took over Dortmund in February 2025 following the departure of Nuri Sahin and still managed to lead the team into the Champions League by the end of the season. In the past campaign, BVB also finished runners-up behind Bayern Munich.

Managing director Lars Ricken also made it clear in an interview with Ruhr Nachrichten just how satisfied the club’s leadership is with the coach’s work. While there is still no official agreement, those in charge want to handle the matter with their usual calm approach. “We said that we would hold talks – and that is exactly how we proceeded last year as well. Back then, too, we didn’t provide constant updates.”

BVB bosses continue to back coach Niko Kovac

Ricken particularly emphasized the high level of trust within the sporting leadership. “Things clicked between Niko and me right from the start, and that trust has continued to grow over time,” the managing director explained. Close cooperation has also developed together with Carsten Cramer and Matthias Sammer. “In this setup, with trust and this togetherness, working together really leaves you wanting more.”

Photo: IMAGO

Even so, Dortmund apparently want to wait and see how the new season starts first. Kovac is expected to prove that he can quickly get the reshaped squad on the path to success before the contract extension is finally sealed. Despite the positive development, the club’s leadership still sees room for improvement.

Ricken pointed out that while the team had shown stability in the Bundesliga, it fell short of its own expectations in the cup competitions. “Last season was mainly about stability and consistency. He handled that very well in the Bundesliga. Of course, we know that we fell short of our own expectations in the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal. We are not ignoring that. Even so, we still ended up as runners-up.”

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