Munich on hunt to replace Kovac
Bayern Munich are looking for a new head coach after Niko Kovac was sacked in the wake of their 5-1 drubbing at Eintracht Frankfurt — their worst Bundesliga defeat in 10 years.
Despite his team routing Tottenham 7-2 in the Champions League in early October, Bayern severed ties with Kovac on Sunday night after winning just three of their last six games.
Here’s an insight as to what prompted the dismissal of Kovac after 16 months in charge:
Lack of boardroom backing
It was no secret that chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was a reluctant supporter of Kovac becoming coach when the former Bayern midfielder succeeded Jupp Heynckes in July 2018.
President Uli Hoeness persuaded Rummenigge that the right man was Kovac, who endured a storm of criticism inside his first three months following back-to-back Bundesliga defeats by Hertha Berlin and Moenchengladbach. Bayern still won the league and cup double last season, but the writing was again on the wall last month when Hoffenheim pulled off a shock 2-1 win in Munich. Sloppy defending also saw Bayern concede a late goal in their 2-2 draw at Augsburg a fortnight ago.
An unconvincing 3-2 victory at Olympiakos in the Champions League the following game moved Rummenigge to brand the performance "careless".
"I don't think the performance we produced will bring us serious success this season," he said in a thinlyveiled dig at Kovac.
Big name factor
Kovac, after his dismissal, was quoted as saying "this is the correct decision for the club", and he was never able to allay concerns he was a big enough name for a club of Bayern's stature.
Following spells under elite coaches in Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti, Bayern will search for a successor of similar ilk to replace Kovac, whose assistant Hansi Flick will take charge for Wednesday's Champions League game at home to Olympiakos.
Jose Mourinho has been linked to the role and is reportedly learning German, while Ajax coach Erik ten Hag — Bayern's reserves coach from 2013-15 under Guardiola — is another contender.
"If Bayern ring, I wouldn't rule it out," Ten Hag told magazine Kicker recently.
Ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, Ralf Rangnick, director of football at RB Leipzig, and revered former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have also been mentioned.
Lost dressing room
Kicker claims Kovac lost Bayern's dressing room last season and that winning the double only papered over the cracks.
"His concept of football was never clear, players lacked detailed tactical guidance," Kicker wrote.
What is certainly true is that Bayern's stars looked desperately short of ideas when Jerome Boateng was sent off after only nine minutes at Frankfurt on Saturday.