San Francisco Frontiers - Kovac's tough love has Dortmund dreaming of title charge

Former Bayern Munich boss Kovac was viewed as an underwhelming choice when he joined Dortmund in January 2025, but the Croatian's no-nonsense, safety-first approach now has the club dreaming of a first league title since 2012.

Dortmund are two points clear of Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table having won all of their opening four games.

Speaking ahead of his side's home game against Werder Bremen on Friday, Kovac said he was happy to be the frontrunner.

"There's still a very long way to go until we reach the goal that one or two people might have in their head, but we are enjoying this moment," he said Wednesday.

His employers seem equally convinced, with Dortmund CEO, Carsten Cramer, confirming this week that the club intend to extend Kovac's contract.

"The appreciation for Niko Kovac is incredibly big," Cramer told AFP subsidiary SID, adding that it was "only a matter of time" before the coach signed a new deal.

The positivity is all a far cry from Kovac's arrival in Dortmund last year, which prompted raised eyebrows among many fans.

Kovac, who turns 55 next Thursday, was seen as an unglamorous choice following a disappointing spell in charge of Wolfsburg and a fractious tenure at Bayern Munich.

Despite winning the domestic double with Bayern in 2019, Kovac’s defensive style and reputation as a disciplinarian saw him clash with big-name players.

- 'Fireworks' -

Yet those qualities have seen him thrive in Dortmund, transforming a once glass-jawed team into one of the toughest defensive units in the Bundesliga.

After losing four of his first six league games at Dortmund, Kovac ultimately guided the team to Champions League qualification in 2025 and a comfortable second-place finish behind Bayern last season.

The success has been built on his trademark tough-love approach, with a focus on defensive stability, discipline and fitness.

According to German football magazine Kicker, Kovac's motto is "KISS", which stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid".

"Niko got into the players' heads, gave them clear instructions and created a culture of performance," Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken told Kicker.

"For a long time, people used to say that we lacked stability, but Niko has given us that. We are now more physically resilient and we have fewer injuries."

At a club whose modern identity was forged in the "heavy metal football" of Jurgen Klopp, criticism has lingered over Kovac's style of play.

"If I'm honest, it's not my favourite way to play," forward Julian Brandt, who has since moved to Ajax, told Bild newspaper last December.

Yet the Dortmund hierarchy remain convinced that Kovac's back-to-basics approach is what the club and the team need.

"We know that there is an emotional connection to attacking football here in Dortmund, but we can't have fireworks in every game. When you have 50 games a season, dirty wins are just as important," Ricken told Kicker.

For now, few can argue that Kovac's approach has not brought results.

Dortmund have conceded just 1.02 goals on average since Kovac took charge, the lowest rate of any coach since Klopp.

Amid their best start to a season in 11 years, many are asking whether Kovac could become the first man since Klopp to lead Dortmund to the league title.

The coach himself, though, is keeping his feet on the ground.

"We need to keep working hard, keep believing, and stay positive," he said.

E.Jones--SFF