Munich: Bayern Munich have signed Eintracht Frankfurt’s Niko Kovac to take charge of the side next season.
The Bavarian powerhouse will pay a fee of 2.2 million euros to trigger a release clause in Kovac’s existing contract with Frankfurt. The 46-year-old is signed through June 2019 with Frankfurt, but the clause reportedly applies for Bayern and two foreign clubs.
Kovac would thus take over from Jupp Heynckes, who stepped out of retirement to take charge of the side last October but has long said he will not continue beyond the end of the season. Bayern’s attempts to convince the 72-year-old Heynckes otherwise were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund head to neighbours Schalke for Sunday’s high-profile Bundesliga clash still smarting after their arch rivals came from four-goals down last time in the ‘Ruhr derby of the century’.
“We are really up for it, especially when you remember the home game,” said Dortmund’s sports director Michael Zorc before the 174th derby in Gelsenkirchen.
Dortmund are still sore after Schalke scored four unanswered second-half goals in a frenetic 4-4 draw at Borussia’s Signal Iduna Park last November.
Brazil defender Naldo dramatically equalised with a 94th-minute header just before the final whistle to cap a remarkable fight back.
“If the game had gone on a minute longer, we would have probably conceded the next goal,” admitted goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller after Dortmund’s defence collapsed.
“I was glad when the referee whistled, it was a relief for us. I came off feeling ashamed.”
The top game on Saturday sees Bayern host Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena with one eye on next Tuesday’s German Cup semi-final at Leverkusen.
Having reached the Champions League semi-finals in midweek, Bayern are now the only European team left still in contention for the treble this season.
Fixtures
Saturday (5.30pm unless stated)
Hoffenheim v Hamburg, Hertha Berlin v Cologne, Bayer Leverkusen v Eintracht Frankfurt, Stuttgart v Hannover, Bayern Munich v Borussia Moenchengladbach, 8.30pm
Sunday
Schalke v Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen v RB Leipzig, 8pm
Monday
Mainz v Freiburg, 10.30pm
