Bayern Munich have sacked coach Niko Kovac, a day after the German
champions suffered a historic 5-1 loss against Eintracht Frankfurt,
capping a poor run of form in recent weeks.
โFC Bayern Munich have relieved head coach Niko Kovac of his duties,โ
the club said in a statement.
The โ โmutual decisionโ was taken following talks with club president
Uli Hoeness, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, sporting director Hasan
Salihamidzic and Kovac himself.
โThe performances of our team in recent weeks and the results have
shown us that there was a need for action,โ said Rummenigge.
Assistant coach Hansi Flick will take charge of the team โuntil
further noticeโ, the statement added.
The 48-year-old former Croatia international said it was the right
move for the side who sit in fourth place in the table.
โI think this is the correct decision for the club at this time,โ Kovac said.
โI would like to thank FC Bayern for these past 18 months. During that
time our team won the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup and the Supercup. It was
a good time. I wish the club and the team all the very best.โ
Bayern will play a Champions League match against Olympiakos on
Wednesday before facing Borussia Dortmund in the German top-flight on
Saturday.
โWe all regret this development. I would like to thank Niko Kovac on
behalf of FC Bayern for his work, particularly for last seasonโs
double win.โ
The hammering by Eintracht was the clubโs worst league defeat in 10
years, throwing Kovacโs future into doubt.
After defeating the Bavarians in the German Cup final in his last
match in charge of Eintracht in 2018, Kovac went on to win the
Bundesliga and the German Cup in his first year in charge.
Only one month ago, Kovacโs short-term future at Bayern looked secure
after he masterminded a 7-2 win over Champions League finalists
Tottenham in London.
Former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, Jose Mourinho and Arsene
Wenger are among the coaches named by bookmakers as possible
replacements for Kovac, with the latter speaking fluent German and
having previously expressed a desire to coach the German champions.
