Soccer-Kovac to take over at Bayern subsequent season on three yr deal

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* Kovac is a former Bayern participant

* Croat had profitable spell at Frankfurt (Updates with Kovac, Eintracht reactions)

BERLIN, April 13 (Reuters) – Croatian Niko Kovac will succeed Jupp Heynckes as Bayern Munich coach subsequent season after agreeing a three-year contract, the German champions stated on Friday.

Treble-chasing Bayern had tried to retain Heynckes, who had come out of retirement to take over in October till the top of the season, however the 72-year-old turned down an extension of his present deal.

“Niko Kovac would be the new coach from July 1, 2018,” stated Bayern sports activities director Hasan Salihamidzic in an announcement. “We agreed yesterday on a three-year contract.

“Niko was a Bayern participant, he is aware of the individuals in cost in addition to the construction and the membership’s DNA. We’re satisfied he’s the fitting coach for the way forward for Bayern.”

The 46-year-old, who had an extended enjoying profession within the Bundesliga, was at Bayern from 2001-03. He joins from Eintracht Frankfurt, the place he had a contract to 2019, for a reported switch charge of simply over two million euros ($2.5 million).

After the top of his enjoying profession Kovac was briefly an assistant coach in Austria.

He then took over Croatia in 2013 for 2 years earlier than signing with relegation-threatened Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016 and turning them into Champions League contenders this season.

The choice to nominate Kovac marks a change of method for success-driven Bayern, who had beforehand opted for big-name coaches. Current appointments have included Champions League winners Heynckes, Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola.

Identical to when Guardiola succeeded Heynckes in 2013, Kovac may doubtlessly begin work after a treble-winning marketing campaign, with Bayern having already secured the Bundesliga title, their sixth consecutive league crown.

They’re additionally via to the Champions League final 4 the place they’ll face Actual Madrid and tackle Bayer Leverkusen within the German Cup semi-final subsequent week.

“I acquired a name (from Bayern) yesterday and a contract provide,” Kovac instructed reporters. “I accepted it yesterday. I knowledgeable the crew this morning. However one factor is evident and that’s that it is the crew that issues not me. It’s what occurs with Eintracht within the coming weeks.”

Eintracht are in fifth place with 5 video games left, two factors off fourth-placed Leverkusen. The highest 4 groups qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League group stage.

Kovac’s brother Robert, additionally a former Bayern participant, will be part of him from Frankfurt as his assistant.

Frankfurt sports activities director Fredi Bobic stated the membership had been stunned by the fast choice.

“We have been clearly stunned particularly on this part (of the season) we’re wherein is extraordinarily vital for us,” Bobic stated.

“We constructed up one thing shortly and we now wish to reap the fruits of our efforts. Clearly the timing of this announcement is inconvenient.” ($1 = 0.8122 euros) (Reporting by Karolos Grohmann Modifying by Alison Williams/Christian Radnedge/Toby Davis)

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