Niko Kovac Fired by Bayern Munich After 5-1 Loss to Eintracht Frankfurt

Rory Marsden @@roomarsdenFeatured ColumnistNovember 3, 2019

BOCHUM, GERMANY - OCTOBER 29: head coach Niko Kovac of FC Bayern Muenchen gestures during the DFB Cup second round match between VfL Bochum and Bayern Muenchen at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on October 29, 2019 in Bochum, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

TF-Images/Getty Images

Niko Kovac has left Bayern Munich after the Bundesliga champions were thrashed 5-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

Bayern confirmed the decision on Sunday:

FC Bayern English @FCBayernEN
FC Bayern parts ways with Niko Kovac. https://t.co/xl0sjaZAqC

Kovac, 48, took over at Bayern ahead of the 2018-19 season and led them to a domestic double in his debut campaign in charge.

In Europe, though, he had less success. The German giants were knocked out of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League by Liverpool at the last-16 stage.

Saturday's crushing defeat against Kovac's former club left Bayern sitting fourth in the Bundesliga after 10 games of the new season, four points back from leaders Borussia Monchengladbach:

Bundesliga English @Bundesliga_EN
Gladbach build on their lead, but things remain tight for the top 10 🔢 https://t.co/45HBxLqKOI

The Frankfurt defeat was clearly the final straw for the Bayern hierarchy.

Despite winning silverware at the Allianz Arena, Kovac never seemed like an ideal fit at the club:

Ronan Murphy @swearimnotpaul
OFFICIAL: Bayern Munich have sacked Niko Kovac. Job always seemed a step too soon for him and the fans never really wanted him or warmed to him. #FCBayern https://t.co/p115qmfr0n

Ed Malyon @eaamalyon
Saw a lot of Bayern last year under Kovac and barring a few big wins (Dortmund hammering springs to mind) the fit never seemed right. Was lucky to last this long, for me. Interested to see who they would go for next. Can’t see them going for Mourinho, Poch though?

Former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has been tipped as Kovac's potential successor, per Bild (h/t Football Italia).

Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax's Erik ten Hag have also been linked, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t Perform via AS).

Bayern are back in action on Wednesday when they meet Olympiacos in the Champions League.