Bayern Munich sack Niko Kovac; Allegri and Mourinho linked with job

Niko Kovac has officially been relieved of his duties by Bayern Munich following a defeat to his former side Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Bayern lost 5-1 away to Frankfurt, their worst ever defeat in nearly a decade, leaving the Bundesliga champions in fourth place.

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Bayern Munich and Niko Kovac

Niko Kovac moved to Bavaria in summer 2018 after he led Frankfurt to DFB-Pokal glory in 2017-18. He did deliver a domestic double last season, but the Bavarian giants' performances under Kovac have never fully got the fanbase on his side, and he leaves just over a year after his appointment. Club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge explained the decision, pointing to their poor start to the season as the catalyst behind the change.

Bayern failed to keep a clean sheet in any of Kovac's last eight games in all competitions and they needed a late comeback to win at second-tier side Bochum in the DFB-Pokal in midweek. Despite Kovac leading Bayern to three wins out of three in the Champions League, the Bundesliga champions have decided a change in direction is necessary. Assistant coach Hans Flick will take charge of the first team as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Olympiacos and the Klassiker showdown with Borussia Dortmund coming Saturday.

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Bayern Munich: Niko Kovac's statement

Bayern Munich: Who will come in next?

Jose Mourinho has been linked with Bayern Munich after reports revealed that the Portuguese has already started learning German. Having represented Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan, Mourinho is undoubtedly an elite-level candidate to replace Niko Kovac. After winning a host of trophies in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain, the 'Special One' would surely relish the opportunity to conquer Germany, too. 

Another elite manager available is Massimiliano Allegri, who parted ways with Juventus earlier in the summer. Allegri insisted he planned to take a year out after leaving Juventus at the end of the last campaign, but he might just be persuaded to cut short his sabbatical if Bayern Munich come knocking. Allegri was untouchable domestically with Juventus, guiding them to five straight Serie A titles, although he was unable to secure a first Champions League title since 1996 for the Italian heavyweights.

Mauricio Pochettino, whose future at Tottenham Hotspur has appeared uncertain since their Champions League final loss to Liverpool, has also been linked with Bayern Munich.

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