Niko Kovac has been sacked by Wolfsburg after 13 matches without a win in the Bundesliga. The German club announced the decision on Sunday, following a 1-0 defeat to Augsburg that left Wolfsburg in 14th place, just six points above the relegation zone.
Kovac’s dismissal comes as little surprise, with the club’s hierarchy reportedly unhappy with his team’s performances for some time. The former Bayern Munich coach was appointed in July 2022, but he failed to improve on the team’s eighth-place finish from the previous season.
Zusammenarbeit beendet: Der VfL Wolfsburg hat sich mit sofortiger Wirkung von seinem Cheftrainer Niko Kovac getrennt.
ℹ️➡️ https://t.co/xZxVSfFmyW#VfLWolfsburg pic.twitter.com/BoEV8Dt388
— VfL Wolfsburg (@VfL_Wolfsburg) March 17, 2024
In a statement, Wolfsburg said: “VfL Wolfsburg have parted ways with head coach Niko Kovac with immediate effect. Managing director Marcel Schäfer informed the 52-year-old of the decision in a personal meeting on Saturday evening. Assistant coaches Robert Kovac and Aaron Briggs will also leave the Wolves.”
Kovac’s departure leaves Wolfsburg searching for their third coach in less than two years. Florian Kohfeldt was sacked in May 2022 after just 10 months in charge, and Kovac’s predecessor, Mark van Bommel, lasted only nine months.
The club’s next game is against Union Berlin on February 18th.
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