Bet on Niko Kovac to Leave Bayern as Crisis Deepens at Allianz

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Posted: October 18, 2018

Updated: June 10, 2020

Niko Kovac has been chosen to lead Bayern Munich to the seventh straight Bundesliga title. Yet after less than two months in 2018/19 season, he is under immense pressure to face Ancelotti’s fate. Is it time to bet on Niko Kovac to leave Bayern? Let's see!

When the Bavarians announced Niko Kovac to take over from Jupp Heynckes at the end of last season, Bundesliga.com outlined five reasons why the 46-year-old is the perfect fit for the job:

  • He knows the Bayern DNA
  • he can handle big players
  • he can take young players to the next level
  • he excels on field
  • he has an impressive track record

Even if those reasons were just great on paper, Kovac failed to bring them to reality so far. Seven weeks have passed, and Bayern are already in deep crisis. They have slipped down to the 6th place in Bundesliga, with four games without a win in all competitions.

The clock is ticking and Kovac has to turn things around, otherwise he could be sacked. Unibet Sportsbook, one of the best online betting sites in Germany, offers 4.00 odds for betting on Niko Kovac to leave Bayern this season.

Kovac Was Not Bayern’s Preferred Candidate

Jupp Heynckes
Bayern wanted Heynckes, now 73 years old, to stay for another season (Image by Doha Stadium Plus Qatar)

When Bayern started searching for new coach last season, Kovac was not on top of their list. The administration tried for a long time to persuade Heynckes, now 73 years old, to stay for another season. Later they have turned to Thomas Tuchel who took over PSG. At that point, they had to go for Niko Kovac as the best available candidate.

Bundesliga Champions usually like to hire managers with strong CV like Heynckes, Ancelotti, and Pep Guardiola. Yet Kovac does not hold such big resume. He spent two seasons as a player at Bayern from 2001-2003, but his biggest achievement as a manager is winning the German Cup last season with Eintracht Frankfurt.

What Went Wrong in Bayern?

According to online sportsbook news in Germany, Kovac is facing huge criticism for his regular rotation plan. In the last five matches, there have been five different line-ups and there have also been tweaks with the formations. Only Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich have started all seven league matches, while previous starters are spending more time on the bench.

Allianz Arena
The Allianz Arena in Munchen

However, some problems are not easy to solve at Allianz Arena right now. Bayern are getting old with the average age of players at 28, the oldest in Bundesliga. The lack of transfer activity in the summer, and the shortage of successful youth products, has ultimately left Kovac with a small squad.

Bayern suffer from lack of defensive organization. They had 53 shots in the last three games and scored just once. There are many problems to be solved other than changing the manager. But, if you think Bayern will repeat the last season’s success with Heynckes, you can bet on Kovac to be sacked, with some tempting candidates waiting for an offer like Zidane and Conte.  

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