Coach Niko Kovac’s job at Bayern Munich is secured, the club said Friday, denying several reports that the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt gaffer will be sacked regardless of whether he wins the Bundesliga title.
Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who is considered one of Kovac’s biggest boardroom critics, denied the reports.
“There is no decision (to sack Kovac), this report is completely made up,” he told Bild newspaper.
Despite being on course to win a league and cup double in the next week, Kovac has been under growing pressure amid widespread speculation that he will not be in charge next season.
On Friday morning, websites Spox.com and Goal.com claimed to have “exclusive information” that Kovac would be sacked regardless of whether he won the title on Saturday and the German Cup final seven days later.
“Kovac isn’t just lacking the unconditional trust of the club hierarchy, he also has most of the dressing room against him,” wrote Spox.
The reports claimed that former Bayern captain Mark van Bommel is being lined up as his successor.
Also listed as possible successors are Ajax coach Erik ten Hag and former Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui.
Speaking on ZDF last Saturday, Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic denied that he had met with Lopetegui, and claimed that Kovac had his “full support”.
Yet when asked directly, he also declined to confirm whether Kovac would be in a job next season.
