Kovac to be named as new BVB coach after confirming Champions League passage

Niko Kovac is set to take over as Borussia Dortmund's head coach, replacing Nuri Sahin.

Dortmund beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, securing their place in the play-offs after finishing 10th in the league table. 

The club fired Shain last week following their loss to Bologna, which saw them lose back-to-back matches in the competition within the same season for the first time since November 2021 (a run of three). It also marked a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.

However, shortly after kick-off, German media reported that Kovac, who has both played and managed in the Bundesliga, is waiting in the wings to take over.

"We have reached an agreement in principle with Niko Kovac, he will take over the team on Sunday," managing director Lars Ricken told broadcaster DAZN.

Interim coach Mike Tullberg, who stepped up from the club's Under-19 side after Sahin's departure, will also be at the helm when Dortmund visit Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The Black and Yellow had now won a game in 2025 heading into their meeting with Shakhtar, but first-half goals from Serhou Guirrasy and a late Ramy Bensebaini effort wrapped up the victory, meaning they will face either Club Brugge or Sporting CP in the two-legged play-off round.

Dortmund will be the fourth Bundesliga club Kovac has taken charge of, having previously had stints at Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, who sacked him in March 2024.

He led Eintracht to DFB Pokal glory in 2017-18, and also won the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2018-19.