The Bundesliga club confirmed the agreement on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. Kovač’s two assistant coaches, Robert Kovač and Filip Tapalović, will also remain with the club under the new arrangement.
The extension represents a commitment to continuity as Dortmund seek to challenge Bayern Munich for domestic honours and remain competitive in European football.
Kovač earns new deal after Dortmund revival
Kovač took charge of Dortmund when the team were sitting 11th in the Bundesliga during the 2024–25 season. He guided them to Champions League qualification on the final day of that campaign.
Dortmund subsequently finished second in the Bundesliga last season, collecting 73 points — the fifth-highest total in the club’s history.
Those results have strengthened the club’s confidence in Kovač’s leadership and his ability to continue developing the squad.
Dortmund hierarchy back long-term stability
Borussia Dortmund managing director for sport Lars Ricken said the team had made consistent progress under Kovač and described the extension as a sign of stability.
The club’s chief executive, Carsten Cramer, also highlighted the strong relationship between Kovač, his coaching staff and the club’s sporting leadership.
Dortmund sporting director Ole Book praised the coach’s attention to detail and experience, expressing confidence that the club could continue making progress together.
Kovač targets further improvement
Kovač said the club had established a clear direction and laid important foundations for the future, but stressed that the team must continue working to improve.
“Together, we’ve set a clear course for development and laid important foundations for the future,” Kovač said. “We want to build on that. We have a clear vision of how we play soccer, how we perform as a team, and what it takes to achieve our goals.”
The 54-year-old has collected 114 points from 53 Bundesliga matches in charge, averaging 2.15 points per game — the highest average recorded by a Dortmund head coach, according to the club.
Dortmund prepare for Champions League test
The contract announcement comes as Dortmund prepare to face Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The club were second in the Bundesliga after five matchdays, level on points with leaders Freiburg but behind on goal difference, according to Reuters’ report.
With Kovač now tied to Dortmund until 2029, the club will hope the renewed partnership delivers further progress in the Bundesliga and Europe.