Monaco have appointed former Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac as their new boss. Kovac replaces Roberto Moreno who departs after just seven months in charge.
Niko Kovac is the latest manager to try and make Monaco a force in European football once again. The former Bayern Munich manager arrives tasked with improving the fortunes of the principality side.
The Croatian has plenty to sort out, from players and tactics to getting the fans back on side. This will be his toughest job in management to date.
Niko Kovac Appointed at Monaco
Welcome to Monaco 🇲🇨 Niko Kovac! #Restart pic.twitter.com/Sp64jgBw4T
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 20, 2020
He Replaces the Sacked Robert Moreno
Monaco confirmed the appointment of Kovac via their website. Kovac has signed a three-year contract at the Stade Louis II with the option of a further year.
Kovac arrives after a break from football following his dismissal from Bayern Munich in November last year. He replaces Robert Moreno, who departs after failing to secure Monaco a place in Europe. Prior to the curtailment of the Ligue 1 season, the club were struggling to find consistency in their play and form.
The club’s hierarchy have decided on a fresh start for the new season which is just over a month away. Kovac’s first game in charge will be at home to Reims on August 23.
‘This Season Marks the Start of a New Chapter for AS Monaco’
Kovac’s arrival marks a new beginning for Monaco following successive seasons of disappointment since their title success in 2017.
Speaking to the club’s website about Kovac’s appointment, vice president Oleg Petrov said: “We are very happy to welcome Niko Kovac to the club.
“This season marks the start of a new chapter for AS Monaco, with a defined sporting plan in line with the club’s objectives. This direction will be embodied by Niko as coach.
“Niko is recognized for his work both for the national team and his work in club environments, in the development of young talent, the management of experienced players and the ability to achieve very good results. I’m convinced that his experience and personality will help us achieve our goals.”
Monaco’s new sporting director Paul Mitchell added: “Niko represents the highest level of experience both as a former player and head coach.
“He has constantly shown an ability to win with Bayern Munich, one of the biggest clubs in the world and winning while in a re-building process at Frankfurt. Niko was a key influence in turning Frankfurt into a top-performing team in Germany, guiding the team twice in consecutive years to the cup final and leaving them with a place in European competition.
“His CV also encompasses a great job with the Croatian national team where he took them through the playoffs into the World Cup finals. His energy, his way of working and his vision of the game make him the coach the club needs to assert our ambitions and build the solid foundations to create sustainable success for the future.”
Niko Kovac Has a Big Job on His Hands
It’s been a turbulent time on and off the pitch for Monaco. The club needs stability at all levels following years of chopping and changing. Kovac will be Monaco’s fourth manager in two years.
He is tasked with bringing the good times back to the club following successive seasons of struggle and disappointment. Things must improve, with Champions League football top of the agenda for the new season.
Kovac will revamp the squad over the next few months as well as implement his style and tactics. His preferred 4-3-3 has been successful in the past and Monaco do have the players that can adapt to his style of play. With Kovac likely to add some fresh faces this summer, the primary objective will be keeping Wissam Ben Yedder.
The Frenchman only returned to France a year ago but he is attracting interest from several European sides having finished as Ligue 1’s joint top scorer.
Ben Yedder wants to play in the Champions League but with Monaco not involved in any European competition, it is going to take some convincing to keep Ben Yedder on board.
This is arguably Kovac’s biggest job in management. Wherever he has been, success has followed. His spell at Eintracht Frankfurt and the Croatia national team is where he made his name. While his spell at Bayern Munich may not have worked out how he wanted, Kovac will be relishing the challenge that Monaco presents. Monaco clearly have faith in him to turnaround their fortunes.
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