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What a complete 180-degree turn of events. Earlier today, Bild and their Twitter front man Christian Falk reported that Niko Kovač will get two more games to prove himself as manager, the Champions League clash against Olympiacos and the domestic super clash against rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Our Story: https://t.co/PX127B8Ypd
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) November 3, 2019
Just now, however, Falk and Bild have confirmed that Kovač will leave his duties as Bayern manager immediately. What caused this complete turnaround of events is as of now unsure, although Kovač’s sacking is perhaps a bit unsurprising, given Bayern did lose heavily to Frankfurt this weekend.
Exclusive: Kovac is fired @BILD_Sport @SPORTBILD
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) November 3, 2019
Bayern has started their league campaign poorly and it may very well be that the humiliation in Frankfurt proved to be the last straw for Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
UPDATE: Kovač offered his resignation
It looks like it was Niko Kovač himself who asked for his resignation.
The explanation of the surprising coach turnaround: Kovac himself has offered his resignation @FCBayern
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) November 3, 2019
According to Sport1’s Florian Plettenberg, when Kovac spoke to the team after today’s training session, he told them, “See you Tuesday” and added, “Get your heads free! Don’t read anything!” They were completely taken off guard by the news that Kovač had resigned.
UPDATE zu #Kovac: Er hat sich nach unseren Infos bis jetzt noch NICHT von der Mannschaft verabschiedet. Spieler sind aktuell total überrascht. Spieler hatten auch nach dem Training keine Vorahnung. @SPORT1
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) November 3, 2019
Kovač offered his resignation after meeting with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uli Hoeness, and Hasan Salihamidzic in the afternoon. In the official Bayern press release, Kovač said,
I think this is the correct decision for the club at this time. The results and the way we’ve played lately have led me to this decision. My brother Robert and I would like to thank FC Bayern for these past 18 months. During that time our team won the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup and the Supercup. It was a good time. I wish the club and the team all the very best.