Berlin (AFP)
Niko Kovac, Bayern Munich coach, was sacked Sunday night after a 5-1 defeat in the league in Frankfurt, and after a disappointing month of October, said the club champion of Germany.
"Niko Kovac is no longer the coach of FC Bayern," said an official statement, stating that the decision was made jointly by President Uli Hoeness, his right-hand man Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, and Niko Kovac himself.
"Until further notice, the assistant coach Hans Flick will be in charge of the team and in particular to prepare the important matches against Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League on Wednesday and against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday," said the president of the directory Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, quoted in the club's press release.
"The performances of our team in recent weeks and its results have shown us that it is necessary to act," explains Rummenigge to justify the decision: "We all regret this development.I would like to thank on behalf of Bayern Niko Kovac for his work, and especially for the double (Cup / German Championship) of last season ".
Sports director Hasan Salihamidzic called for a team reaction: "I am now expecting from our players a positive attitude and an absolute desire for performance, so that we achieve our goals this season."
The defending champions have won this season only five of their first ten Bundesliga games (18 pts), signing their worst start since the 2010/2011 season.
They had not conceded five goals in the league for more than ten years (5-1 against Wolfsburg in April 2009).
"I think it's the right decision at the right time for the club," said Kovac, who had been in post since the summer of 2018, when he succeeded Jupp Heynckes. "The results and our game lately have led me to this conclusion".
© 2019 AFP