“I’d have battered him”: ex-pro hits out at BVB boss Kovac | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac is facing criticism following comments by former professional Yanni Regäsel. The former Frankfurt player makes serious accusations and speaks of what he saw as a difficult period under the current BVB coach.

Yanni Regäsel is currently causing a stir with unusually candid remarks about his time in professional football. The former Bundesliga player is not only making serious accusations against the football business, but is also settling scores with his former coach Niko Kovac, who now manages Borussia Dortmund.

Regäsel, who was under contract with Eintracht Frankfurt between 2016 and 2018 and now plays for Oberliga side SV Wilhelmshaven, described his experiences in a YouTube format hosted by his former DFB youth teammate Bilal Kamarieh.

The 30-year-old was especially clear in his comments about Kovac. By his own account, his relationship with the then-Frankfurt coach deteriorated permanently after a newspaper interview. At the time, Regäsel had publicly voiced his lack of understanding over his limited playing time. However, the reporting turned out differently from what he had intended.

Regäsel settles scores with BVB coach Kovac

One statement from his coach at the time in particular has stayed with him. In a personal conversation, Kovac is said to have told him: “Yanni, you are the best player here that I have, but I don’t like you. You will play no role under me.”

Photo: IMAGO

For Regäsel, this was a turning point. At the time, he said he realized that football is not solely about sporting performance. Even years later, the situation still affects him. Looking back, he described his feelings at the time in drastic terms: “At some point I realized I was going to explode. And before that happened—honestly, I would have beaten him up.” In addition, the former youth international criticized the current Dortmund coach’s man-management style. “He always wants to be the center of attention,” said Regäsel.

In Regäsel’s view, Kovac deliberately did not want players with influence within a team around him. Regäsel made ten Bundesliga appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt and later was under contract with, among others, MSV Duisburg. Although the one-time talent never had the big career many expected, his comments are now making headlines once again.

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