Ricken praises Kovac: "Among the greatest managerial performances in BVB history" | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund secured a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League with a commanding 3-0 win over Holstein Kiel on the final matchday of the Bundesliga campaign, leapfrogging Freiburg to finish fourth.

The result capped off a remarkable late-season surge from BVB, who climbed from mid-table to the top four thanks to five consecutive league wins under head coach Niko Kovac.

After the final whistle, Dortmund’s managing director for sport, Lars Ricken, was full of praise for Kovac, who took charge at the end of January.

“A few months ago, we were in 11th place. Then Niko came in,” Ricken told Kicker.

“I’ve been at this club a long time, and I mean no disrespect to any of our past coaches, but what he’s achieved ranks among the greatest managerial performances in BVB history.”

Ricken pointed to Dortmund’s 3-1 second-leg win over FC Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals as a turning point - even though it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit from the first leg.

Ricken outlined what he believes has driven Kovac’s success:

“He built confidence by publicly praising the team early on. Once the confidence was there, he started demanding more and addressing the weaknesses.”

Ricken also credited Kovac’s vast experience - both as a former player and as a coach with stints at Frankfurt, Bayern, Monaco and Wolfsburg.

“With every stop, whether as a player or coaching in Frankfurt, Bayern, Monaco, or Wolfsburg, you pick up something new. He’s grown and developed, and now Borussia Dortmund are reaping the rewards.”