Former Bayern Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Monaco manager Kovac signed an 18-month contract with Dortmund in January 2025, when the team was in 11th place.

Dortmund won 22 of a possible 24 points to finish the season in fourth place, the final Champions League spot, thanks in part to Kovac’s efforts to turn the tide after dropping as low as 13th.

“We want to help Borussia Dortmund regain our former strength with honest work, clear decisions, and great enthusiasm,” Kovac said in a statement.

“There is still much for us to do together.”

Kovac “approaches every game with conviction, intensity, and passion,” according to Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl, who also stated that “we believe together we can continue the successful path of last season’s final spurt.”
Known as a strict disciplinarian who prioritizes work ethic and physical fitness, Kovac made his coaching debut in 2018 as manager of Frankfurt, where he won the German Cup.

Kovac won the double in 2018–19 after joining Bayern, however the next season he was fired.

The Berlin-born Kovac played for Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Hamburg. He represented Croatia 83 times and scored 14 goals.

Dortmund gave up two goals and was relegated to 10 men in the final five minutes of their season-opening 3-3 draw at St Pauli.