Niko Kovac will be the next coach of Bayern Munich, according to multiple reports in Germany.
A former Bayern defender, Kovac has long been considered a leading contender to replace interim coach Jupp Heynckes, who plans to retire at the end of the season.
Kovac took over Eintracht Frankfurt in March 2016 and helped the club survive a relegation playoff that season before finishing 11th last year.
They are currently in fifth place, just two points behind Bayer Leverkusen for the final Champions League qualification spot with five games remaining.
Kovac said last week he was happy at Eintracht, where his contract runs for another season, but he left the door open for a possible change.
“There is no reason to doubt whether I’ll be coach here next year,” he said, but added: “So much happens in soccer. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. As things stand now, I am coach until 2019.”
Bayern had previously targeted former Thomas Tuchel to take over, but CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed last month that the Borussia Dortmund boss had turned down the Bavarian club, while sources have said he is Paris-Saint Germain’s choice to be their next boss.
Rummenigge also said that Bayern would seek a German-speaking coach, and planned to make an appointment before the end of April. Other reported candidates included RB Leipzig’s Ralf Hassenhuttl, Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann and Freiburg’s Christian Streich.
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