Manchester United have included Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac on their shortlist for the next permanent manager, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.
The Old Trafford side are continuing work behind the scenes following Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim boss last week, as they aim to hire a new full-time manager after the season.
Kovac could be one to watch in United’s ongoing search, with the Croatian remaining among the coaches being seriously considered amid his impressive season with Dortmund.
United are yet to engage in any direct contact with Kovac or his representatives and are not planning to open formal talks until late spring.
Man United Monitoring Niko Kovac
Niko Kovac
According to Galetti, the Premier League is seen as a possible destination for Kovac, who is under contract with Dortmund until the end of the 2026/27 season.
The 54-year-old was also seriously considered by Chelsea before Liam Rosenior’s appointment, with interest driven by Blues sporting director Laurence Stewart, who knows Kovac well from their time together at Ligue 1 side Monaco.
Kovac is reluctant to depart Dortmund in the middle of an impressive campaign, with the German side losing just once across their 18 Bundesliga games under the Croatian.
Kovac, praised as 'one of the best coaches' in Europe, took charge of Dortmund in February 2025 and has since averaged 2.02 points per game – the highest return of any permanent club manager since Thomas Tuchel.
Since the start of November, Dortmund have lost just twice across all competitions, suffering a 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League and a 1-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup.
Niko Kovac’s Managerial Journey So Far
Niko Kovac and Pep Guardiola
A former defensive midfielder, Kovac retired from football in 2009 and has since worked at six different clubs, as well as with the Croatia national team.
The 54-year-old lifted his first trophy as a manager in the 2017/18 season, when he led Eintracht Frankfurt to the German Cup, beating Bayern Munich 3-1 in the final.
Weeks later, Kovac took charge of Bayern on a three-year contract but lasted just 16 months in the role, despite leading the club to a league and cup double in his first season.
The Croatian has also worked at fellow Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, as well as Monaco, before taking charge of Dortmund last year.
Man Utd to Focus on January Market
Michael Carrick
Following Carrick’s appointment last week, United are likely to explore options to potentially strengthen the 44-year-old’s squad in the January market.
According to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano, the Old Trafford side are set to hold a meeting with Carrick early this week to discuss their plans for the remaining two weeks of the transfer window.
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