Niko Kovač was born in Berlin to Croatian parents and had a long playing career with Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg, Bayern Munich and Red Bull Salzburg. He captained Croatia and played at two World Cups.
As a coach he managed Croatia, then Eintracht Frankfurt, whom he led to the 2018 DFB-Pokal, beating Bayern in the final. Bayern appointed him that summer, and he won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2019.
After spells at Monaco and Wolfsburg, Kovač took charge of Borussia Dortmund in 2025, known for well-organised, hard-working teams.
Coaching style
Kovač’s teams are well organised, hard-working and disciplined. He is known for building strong team spirit and for pragmatic tactics that suit his players rather than a fixed system. His Eintracht Frankfurt side that beat Bayern in the 2018 DFB-Pokal final was a model of organisation and determination, and his Bayern team won the double the following year. He is known for a direct, honest style of communication with players. At Dortmund he was tasked with bringing stability and consistency to a talented squad.
International career
As a player, Kovač captained Croatia and played at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. As a coach, he took charge of Croatia in 2013 and led them through the play-offs to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.