FRANKFURT: German champions Bayern Munich have agreed terms for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Niko Kovac as successor to Jupp Heynckes as coach in the summer.

Heynckes, 72, came out of returement when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked last September and had led Bayern to their sixth Bundesliga title in a row and to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Kovac, a former captain and then coach of Croatia who played for Bayern from 2001 to 2003, has agreed a three-year contract to start work on July 1.

Kovac’s brother Robert, also a former Bayern player, will move with him from his role as Eintracht head coach to be his assistant.

The new manager, born in Berlin to Croatian parents, is under contract to Frankfurt until 2019 and reports in the German media have suggested his release clause is 2.2 million euros (£1.9m).

Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic said: “Niko knows the people in charge as well as the structure and the club’s dna. We are convinced he is the right coach for the future of Bayern.”

Kovac spent the majority of his playing career in Germany with the likes of Hertha Berlin and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as spending two years at Bayern.

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