Bayern Munich have relieved head coach Niko Kovac of his duties in the wake of Matchday 10’s 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Kovac, who took over from Jupp Heynckes at the start of the 2018/19 season and took the club to a domestic double in his only full season in charge, departed the club on Sunday evening.
Bayern currently sit fourth in the Bundesliga table, four points off leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach. The defending champions have won just one of their last four league games under Kovac, suffering defeats against Hoffenheim and Frankfurt.
Kovac was able to turn the 2018/19 season around for Bayern, helping them win the Bundesliga title for a 28th time having once sat nine points adrift of Dortmund at the top of the table.
“I think this is the right decision for the club at the moment,” Kovac explained in a statement. “The results, and also the way we last played, made me come to that decision. My brother Robert and I thank Bayern for the last one and a half years. During this time, our team has won the championship, the DFB Cup and the Supercup. It was a good time. I wish the club and the team all the best.”
“The performance of our team in recent weeks and the results have shown us that there was need for action,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. “Uli Hoeneß, Hasan Salihamidzic and I had an open and serious conversation with Niko on this basis on Sunday with the consensual result that Niko is no longer coach of FC Bayern. We all regret this development. I would like to thank Niko Kovac on behalf of FC Bayern for his work, especially for winning the double last season.”
Assistant manager Hansi Flick , who enjoyed success during 14 years as part of the national team set-up – both as assistant boss to Jogi Low and DFB sporting director – will take temporary charge.
Bayern meet Olympiacos in the Champions League in midweek, before facing Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker next weekend.
The last time Bayern elected to sack a manager mid-season, Carlo Ancelotti bit the bullet and Jupp Heynckes returned for a caretaker spell – leading them to the title.
Bayern haven’t failed to win their domestic league since being pipped by Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in 2012.
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