Managerial Career
Niko Kovač started his managerial career for RB Salzburg and Croatia, becoming the manager of both U19s and the senior teams in his home country. Following disappointing campaigns in the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Euros, Kovač was sacked, and that's when his pathway in the Bundesliga began. He became Eintracht Frankfurt's manager in 2016, his experience ranging from fighting against relegation in his first campaign to fighting for Europe in his third season while reaching two Pokal finals and winning one.
His Pokal triumph in 2018 was Frankfurt's first title since 1988, where Kovač beat Bayern Münich 3-1. The Bavarians were so impressed that they gave Kovač the manager role after Jupp Heynckes retired. In Münich, Kovač had a good spell in his sole season as the manager, winning the Meisterschale, the Pokal — second in a row — and a German Super Cup. He, however, left Münich after only one season, following a disappointing UCL campaign and a 5-1 defeat to his former club, Eintracht Frankfurt, in his final match.
From 2020 to 2022, Kovač spent his time in France coaching AS Monaco, transforming them from relegation contenders to a Champions League squad. Despite not winning trophies for the French club, the Croatian had good seasons ahead of Monaco, beating PSG twice in 2021, including a win at the Parc des Princes, which hadn't happened since 2016. Kovač also had a closer xG differential to PSG than previously and, subsequently, during his tenure at the principate.
Most recently, Kovač came back to the Bundesliga to manage Wolfsburg, but his return did not go as well as he might have expected. Despite a promising start, he summed up a negative record of 23 wins, 17 draws, and 26 losses for the Wolves in almost two years at the helm. Even with Kovač's proven track record in German football, his last experience was not as successful or exciting as his background.