![[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 1, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac before a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kai Pfaffenbach-Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_79,w_2788,h_1568/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/395/01kgsvpj4fkn125rtf0s.jpg "[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 1, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac before a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kai Pfaffenbach-Reuters via Imagn Images")
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac is all set to return to Wolfsburg for the first time since leaving the club in March 2024.
The Croatian has faced the Wolves twice since taking charge of BVB, but both have come at the Signal Iduna Park - and both resulted in a win for him.
This time, he takes on his former side at the Volkswagen Arena, a place he knows too well, having spent almost two years there.
Kovac returns to Wolfsburg
There will be no love lost though, as 54-year-old will be looking to make it three wins from three against Die Wolfe with Dortmund and his first in Wolfsburg since getting sacked almost two years ago.
Appointed ahead of the 2022-23 season, Kovac oversaw 66 games with the Lower Saxony outfit, winning only 23 while losing 26. He departed with a meager win percentage of 34.8 in all competitions.
During his tenure, Wolfsburg scored 96 goals in all competitions, but also conceded 93 times as defense was their Achilles heel even under Kovac.
Following a run of 11 consecutive Bundesliga matches without a win between December 2023 and March 2024, the Croatian was replaced by Ralph Hasenhuttl.
A big milestone awaits Kovac
Should Kovac prevail against his former side at his old stomping ground, the veteran manager would also be achieving a significant milestone in his managerial career.
A win on Saturday would be his 100th in the Bundesliga, which will see him join an elite list of managers to have achieved it in the German top-flight's history.
His previous 99 wins have come across four different clubs: 29 with Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt each, 22 with Dortmund and 19 with Wolfsburg.
At Dortmund, he's done a fine job of turning them into a solid unit, led by a fearsome attacking vanguard while also boasting one of the meanest defenses.
Since taking charge a year ago, the head coach has suffered only five league defeats in 34 games and has spearheaded a compelling title charge this season.
In both meetings with Wolfsburg as the Dortmund manager, his side won without conceding: a dominant 4-0 victory in May 2025 as Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adyemei both struck a brace, followed by a 1-0 win earlier this season with Adeyemi once again on target.
With Wolfsburg currently struggling in the lower rungs of the league standings following a poor run, Kovac will be looking forward to facing them again as a win at his former home would mean a big statement.