In Dortmund, where the season’s ambitions are measured as much by Europe as by the Bundesliga table, Borussia have chosen continuity before welcoming Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. Niko Kovac has agreed a new contract running until June 2029, extending a tenure that has taken the club from a troubled winter position to regular contention at the top end of German football.
The Croatian coach, who was born in Berlin, arrived in January 2025 with Dortmund sitting 11th in the Bundesliga. He lifted the side into fourth place by the end of that campaign, securing Champions League qualification, and then guided them to second place last season. Their meeting with the Norwegian champions is itself evidence of the recovery overseen since his appointment.
Dortmund have also begun the current league campaign strongly after a summer of change, winning four of their first five Bundesliga matches. The club’s decision to lengthen Kovac’s stay reflects confidence that the progress can continue beyond the immediate demands of the domestic and European calendar.
“We have been on a very positive path with Niko Kovac since he took over a little more than 18 months ago,” sporting director Lars Ricken said. “He has developed the team continuously and is highly regarded throughout the club.”
Ricken described the new deal as a clear statement of “continuity and stability” at Borussia Dortmund, giving Kovac a longer horizon as the club seek to sustain their return to the Champions League stage.
