From 11th place in the Bundesliga to Champions League qualification and then a runners-up finish with one of the club’s highest-ever points totals, Kovac has transformed Dortmund into a serious challenger to Bayern Munich in just 18 months. The new contract underlines the club’s confidence in the direction he has taken.
From 11th place to Bundesliga runners-up
When Kovac arrived in February 2025, Dortmund were struggling. The team sat 11th in the Bundesliga, and Champions League qualification appeared increasingly unlikely with an eight-point gap to make up.
The Croatian nevertheless engineered a remarkable turnaround. No Bundesliga side collected more points over the final 12 matchdays of the 2024/25 season, with Dortmund eventually securing a place in Europe’s elite competition on the final day.
Kovac’s first full season proved even more impressive. He guided BVB to second place in 2025/26 with 73 points, a total the club had surpassed on only four previous occasions in its Bundesliga history. Three years earlier, that tally would even have been enough to win the title.
A much-improved defence provided the foundation for Dortmund’s success. BVB conceded just 34 league goals last season and kept 15 clean sheets, equalling the club record for most shutouts in a single Bundesliga campaign.
Kovac sets new Dortmund points record
Kovac’s remarkable record is reflected in his points-per-game average. Across his first 53 Bundesliga matches in charge of Dortmund, the former Bayern Munich coach collected 114 points, averaging 2.15 per match. No other BVB head coach has achieved a higher average in the club’s Bundesliga history.
Dortmund also made an impressive start to the 2026/27 campaign. Four consecutive victories propelled them to the top of the standings, and September’s 1-0 away win against VfB Stuttgart saw the club lead the Bundesliga for the first time since May 2023. BVB dropped points for the first time this season in their most recent league match, a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen.
Sporting director Book praises close working relationship
According to Bild, Kovac had delayed signing his extension until Lars Ricken’s future had been resolved. Just a few days earlier, Dortmund had extended the contracts of their executive management team. Ricken, the club’s managing director for sport, highlighted Kovac’s strong standing within Borussia Dortmund and explained that both sides had quickly reached an agreement.
Chief executive Carsten Cramer also praised the unity between the coaching staff and sporting management, describing their close cooperation as “extremely refreshing”.
Sporting director Ole Book, who has been at Dortmund for a relatively short time, also stressed the strength of his relationship with the head coach.
“Niko and I have had a relationship built on trust from my very first day here. Niko works with incredible attention to detail and brings a calmness through his experience that benefits our team,” Book explained.
The sporting director added that he is in contact with Kovac almost every day. Together, they are working on the next stages of the team’s development, with the aim of building on Dortmund’s recent success.
The new agreement also represents a significant financial commitment. According to media reports, Kovac is expected to earn around €5 million per year, with performance-related bonuses on top. The club has not officially disclosed his salary.
Kovac determined to build on Dortmund’s progress
Kovac regards the progress made so far as merely the foundation for further success. The 54-year-old wants to continue improving his team and establish Dortmund among Europe’s leading clubs over the long term.
“We have started a clear process of development together and laid important foundations for the future. We want to build on that,” the BVB head coach said.
He also emphasised the importance of refusing to become complacent after the team’s recent achievements. “What matters is that we don’t settle for what we’ve achieved, but work every day to become better,” Kovac added.
By extending the contracts of his entire coaching team, Dortmund are also ensuring continuity behind the scenes. His brother Robert will remain alongside Filip Tapalovic as assistant coach.
Dortmund’s next challenge is already approaching. On Wednesday, BVB travel to Norway to face FK Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League. Kovac will be without key defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who is being rested as part of his workload management following recent ankle ligament injuries.
