There was a moment at the end of the 2018 DFB Cup final in Berlin when Niko Kovac – usually so cool, calm and collected – looked up at the East Stand of the Olympiastadion with tears in his eyes. Following Eintracht's 3-1 win against his future employers Bayern München, Kovac for once allowed his emotions to get the better of him, reflecting on winning the first trophy of his coaching career in his final game in charge of the Eagles. It was the perfect way to end a shared journey that knew almost nothing but high points. Here are some reasons we owe Kovac a thank you.
Thank you for ...
... Keeping us afloat in the 2015/16 season. Kovac took the reins at the Commerzbank Arena on 8 March 2016, with Eintracht sitting 16th and only nine games to play. The auguries were far from good, and a run of four defeats in Kovac's first five matches in charge served to underline the scale of the task at hand. Wins against 1. FSV Mainz 05 (2-1), SV Darmstadt 98 (2-1) and Borussia Dortmund (1-0) were enough to secure 16th place and a relegation play-off against 1. FC Nürnberg. After a 1-1 draw on home turf, the Eagles emerged 1-0 winners in Nuremberg, preserving their top-flight status for another season.
Thank you for ...
... A fine 2016/17 Bundesliga campaign and the 2017 DFB Cup final. Despite major personnel changes (15 arrivals, 15 departures), Kovac quickly turned Eintracht into a hard-working, hard-to-beat unit. The former Croatia coach's three-at-the-back system proved a masterstroke, giving the club a new identity, and the side displayed all the characteristics that had marked Kovac out as a player: unwavering commitment, hard work and a willingness to fight for the cause. Eintracht conceded the second fewest goals (15) in the first half of the season and – against all pre-season expectations – sat sixth at the midway point. While the level dropped slightly in the second half of the campaign (leading to an 11th-place finish), that was in part due to an increased focus on other matters: a last-four win on penalties at Borussia Mönchengladbach secured a berth in the 2017 DFB Cup final, the Eagles' first trip to Berlin since 2006. Eintracht battled bravely against Dortmund in the final, but a 2-1 defeat was a disappointing denouement to an otherwise unforgettable season.
Thank you for ...
... Our best Bundesliga season since 2012/13; ending a 30-year trophy drought; a UEFA Europa League adventure in 2018/19 to look forward to. In 2017/18, Kovac achieved what no Eintracht coach had been able to since 1988: win a trophy. The Croatian's place in the history books is secure following the memorable 3-1 win against overwhelming favourites Bayern in Berlin, a triumph that also means Kovac signs off having ensured Eintracht will be playing in Europe next season. Of course, those successes should not overshadow an impressive Bundesliga campaign: finishing in eighth with 49 points represented the club's best placing in five years.
Thank you for ...
... The time we spent together. In 27 months and 91 competitive games (W41, D17, L33), Kovac achieved plenty in Frankfurt, including securing safety, two exciting Bundesliga seasons, two DFB Cup finals and delivering a long-awaited trophy. That return is far more than expected and it ended up as a win-win situation. All the best, Niko, and thanks for everything!
