Niko Kovač

Date of birth15 October 1971
Place of birthBerlin
NationalityCroatian
Weight72 kg
Height1.76 m
PositionMidfielder

The elder brother of Robert Kovac (also of Bayern Munich and Croatia, and previously together at Bayer Leverkusen) is a versatile midfielder, capable of carrying out destructive and constructive roles.

His best position is probably as an attacking left-back as some pundits favourably compare him to the former Bayern great, Paul Breitner.

Niko joined Bayern in June 2001 for £4million from SV Hamburg a year after they turned down a £5million bid.

Niko, who has also played for Hertha Zehlendorf and Hertha Berlin, started his career with Rapid Wedding.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Hertha Zehlendorf 01 Jul 1991
Hertha BSC Berlin 01 Jul 1991 01 Jul 1996
Bayer Leverkusen 01 Jul 1996 01 Jul 1999
Hamburger SV 01 Jul 1999 01 Jul 2001
Bayern Munchen 01 Jul 2001

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
2000-01 Hamburger SV Bundesliga 25
4
9
2000-01 Hamburger SV UEFA Champions League 8
1
2
2000-01 Hamburger SV UEFA Cup 1
2001-02 Bayern Munchen Bundesliga 11
6
2
3
2001-02 Bayern Munchen Intercontinental Cup 1
2001-02 Bayern Munchen UEFA Champions League 3
1
3
2001-02 Bayern Munchen UEFA Super Cup
1
2002-03 Bayern Munchen Bundesliga 10
8
1
5
2002-03 Bayern Munchen UEFA Champions League 1
1
1
2003-04 Hertha BSC Berlin Bundesliga 14
2
1
8
2004-05 Hertha BSC Berlin Bundesliga 30
4
11
2005-06 Hertha BSC Berlin Bundesliga 24
4
3
6
2006-07 Red Bull Salzburg UEFA Cup 2
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
08 Aug 2000 Brøndby v Hamburger SV W 0-2 UEFA Champions League 3rd round 1st leg
12 Aug 2000 Hamburger SV v TSV 1860 München D 2-2 Bundesliga 1
19 Aug 2000 Hertha Berlin v Hamburger SV L 4-0 Bundesliga 2
23 Aug 2000 Hamburger SV v Brøndby D 0-0
Agg: 2-0
UEFA Champions League 3rd round 2nd leg
06 Sep 2000 Hamburger SV v Werder Bremen W 2-1 Bundesliga 3
09 Sep 2000 VfL Bochum v Hamburger SV W 0-4 Bundesliga 4
13 Sep 2000 Hamburger SV v Juventus D 4-4 UEFA Champions League Group E
16 Sep 2000 Hamburger SV v Borussia Dortmund L 2-3 Bundesliga 5
19 Sep 2000 Deportivo La Coruña v Hamburger SV L 2-1 UEFA Champions League Group E
23 Sep 2000 VfL Wolfsburg v Hamburger SV D 4-4 Bundesliga 6
26 Sep 2000 Hamburger SV v Panathinaikos L 0-1 UEFA Champions League Group E
30 Sep 2000 Hamburger SV v Schalke 04 W 2-0 Bundesliga 7
14 Oct 2000 VfB Stuttgart v Hamburger SV D 3-3 Bundesliga 8
18 Oct 2000 Panathinaikos v Hamburger SV D 0-0 UEFA Champions League Group E
21 Oct 2000 Hamburger SV v Eintracht Frankfurt W 2-0 Bundesliga 9
24 Oct 2000 Juventus v Hamburger SV W 1-3 UEFA Champions League Group E
08 Nov 2000 Hamburger SV v Deportivo La Coruña D 1-1 UEFA Champions League Group E
03 Dec 2000 1.FC Kaiserslautern v Hamburger SV L 2-1 Bundesliga 15
07 Dec 2000 Hamburger SV v AS Roma L 0-3
Agg: 0-4
UEFA Cup 3rd round 2nd leg
10 Dec 2000 Hamburger SV v Energie Cottbus W 2-1 Bundesliga 16
13 Dec 2000 Bayern München v Hamburger SV L 2-1 Bundesliga 17
03 Feb 2001 Werder Bremen v Hamburger SV L 3-1 Bundesliga 20
10 Feb 2001 Hamburger SV v VfL Bochum W 3-0 Bundesliga 21
17 Feb 2001 Borussia Dortmund v Hamburger SV L 4-2 Bundesliga 22
24 Feb 2001 Hamburger SV v VfL Wolfsburg W 3-2 Bundesliga 23
04 Mar 2001 Schalke 04 v Hamburger SV W 0-1 Bundesliga 24
11 Mar 2001 Hamburger SV v VfB Stuttgart D 2-2 Bundesliga 25
17 Mar 2001 Eintracht Frankfurt v Hamburger SV D 1-1 Bundesliga 26
31 Mar 2001 Hamburger SV v SpVgg Unterhaching D 1-1 Bundesliga 27
07 Apr 2001 SC Freiburg v Hamburger SV D 0-0 Bundesliga 28
15 Apr 2001 Hamburger SV v 1.FC Köln D 1-1 Bundesliga 29
21 Apr 2001 Bayer Leverkusen v Hamburger SV D 1-1 Bundesliga 30
29 Apr 2001 Hamburger SV v Hansa Rostock W 2-1 Bundesliga 31
12 May 2001 Energie Cottbus v Hamburger SV L 4-2 Bundesliga 33


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1995-96 Croatia OT v Under-21 1
1996-97 Croatia FIFA World Cup 1
1996-97 Croatia Hassan II Trophy 1
1
1997-98 Croatia FIFA World Cup
2
1999-00 Croatia International Friendly 4
1
1
2000-01 Croatia FIFA World Cup 4
2
2000-01 Croatia International Friendly 2
2001-02 Croatia FIFA World Cup 4
1
1
2001-02 Croatia International Friendly 2
1
1
1
2002-03 Croatia International Friendly 2
2002-03 Croatia UEFA European Championship 1
2
1
1
2003-04 Croatia International Friendly 4
1
1
2003-04 Croatia UEFA European Championship 7
2
1
2004-05 Croatia FIFA World Cup 6
2
2004-05 Croatia International Friendly 3
2005-06 Croatia FIFA World Cup 6
1
3
2005-06 Croatia International Friendly 6
2006-07 Croatia International Friendly 1
2006-07 Croatia UEFA European Championship 7
1
2007-08 Croatia International Friendly 5
4
1
2007-08 Croatia UEFA European Championship 6
2008-09 Croatia FIFA World Cup 3
1
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
23 May 1996 Brazil v Croatia D 1-1 OT v Under-21
11 Dec 1996 Morocco v Croatia W 2-2 (7-6) Hassan II Trophy Semi-final
12 Dec 1996 Croatia v Czech Republic W 1-1 (4-1) Hassan II Trophy Final
29 Mar 1997 Croatia v Denmark D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 1
11 Oct 1997 Slovenia v Croatia W 1-3 FIFA World Cup Group 1
15 Nov 1997 Ukraine v Croatia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup 2nd leg play-off
13 Nov 1999 France v Croatia L 3-0 International Friendly
23 Feb 2000 Croatia v Spain D 0-0 International Friendly
29 Mar 2000 Croatia v Germany D 1-1 International Friendly
26 Apr 2000 Austria v Croatia W 1-2 International Friendly
28 May 2000 Croatia v France L 0-2 International Friendly
16 Aug 2000 Slovakia v Croatia D 1-1 International Friendly
02 Sep 2000 Belgium v Croatia D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
11 Oct 2000 Croatia v Scotland D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
25 Apr 2001 Croatia v Greece D 2-2 International Friendly
02 Jun 2001 Croatia v San Marino W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
06 Jun 2001 Latvia v Croatia W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
15 Aug 2001 Republic of Ireland v Croatia D 2-2 International Friendly
05 Sep 2001 San Marino v Croatia W 0-4 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
17 Apr 2002 Croatia v Bosnia and Herzegovina W 2-0 International Friendly
08 May 2002 Hungary v Croatia W 0-2 International Friendly
03 Jun 2002 Croatia v Mexico L 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group G
08 Jun 2002 Italy v Croatia W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Finals group G
13 Jun 2002 Ecuador v Croatia L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group G
21 Aug 2002 Croatia v Wales D 1-1 International Friendly
29 Mar 2003 Croatia v Belgium W 4-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
02 Apr 2003 Croatia v Andorra W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
30 Apr 2003 Sweden v Croatia W 1-2 International Friendly
11 Jun 2003 Estonia v Croatia W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Group 8
20 Aug 2003 England v Croatia L 3-1 International Friendly
06 Sep 2003 Andorra v Croatia W 0-3 UEFA European Championship Group 8
10 Sep 2003 Belgium v Croatia L 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 8
15 Nov 2003 Croatia v Slovenia D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Play-off 1st leg
19 Nov 2003 Slovenia v Croatia W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Play-off 2nd leg
18 Feb 2004 Croatia v Germany L 1-2 International Friendly
28 Apr 2004 North Macedonia v Croatia W 0-1 International Friendly
29 May 2004 Croatia v Slovakia W 1-0 International Friendly
05 Jun 2004 Denmark v Croatia W 1-2 International Friendly
13 Jun 2004 Switzerland v Croatia D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
17 Jun 2004 Croatia v France D 2-2 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
21 Jun 2004 Croatia v England L 2-4 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
18 Aug 2004 Croatia v Israel W 1-0 International Friendly
04 Sep 2004 Croatia v Hungary W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
08 Sep 2004 Sweden v Croatia W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
09 Oct 2004 Croatia v Bulgaria D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
16 Nov 2004 Republic of Ireland v Croatia L 1-0 International Friendly
09 Feb 2005 Israel v Croatia D 3-3 International Friendly
26 Mar 2005 Croatia v Iceland W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
30 Mar 2005 Croatia v Malta W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
04 Jun 2005 Bulgaria v Croatia W 1-3 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
17 Aug 2005 Croatia v Brazil D 1-1 International Friendly
03 Sep 2005 Iceland v Croatia W 1-3 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
07 Sep 2005 Malta v Croatia D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
08 Oct 2005 Croatia v Sweden W 1-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 8
12 Nov 2005 Portugal v Croatia L 2-0 International Friendly
01 Mar 2006 Croatia v Argentina W 3-2 International Friendly
23 May 2006 Austria v Croatia W 1-4 International Friendly
28 May 2006 Croatia v Iran D 2-2 International Friendly
07 Jun 2006 Spain v Croatia L 2-1 International Friendly
13 Jun 2006 Brazil v Croatia L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
18 Jun 2006 Japan v Croatia D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
22 Jun 2006 Croatia v Australia D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Finals group F
16 Aug 2006 Italy v Croatia W 0-2 International Friendly
06 Sep 2006 Russia v Croatia D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group E
07 Oct 2006 Croatia v Andorra W 7-0 UEFA European Championship Group E
11 Oct 2006 Croatia v England W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group E
15 Nov 2006 Israel v Croatia W 3-4 UEFA European Championship Group E
24 Mar 2007 Croatia v North Macedonia W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group E
02 Jun 2007 Estonia v Croatia W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Group E
06 Jun 2007 Croatia v Russia D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group E
22 Aug 2007 Bosnia and Herzegovina v Croatia W 3-5 International Friendly
08 Sep 2007 Croatia v Estonia W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group E
17 Nov 2007 North Macedonia v Croatia L 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group E
21 Nov 2007 England v Croatia W 2-3 UEFA European Championship Group E
06 Feb 2008 Croatia v Netherlands L 0-3 International Friendly
26 Mar 2008 Scotland v Croatia D 1-1 International Friendly
24 May 2008 Croatia v Moldova W 1-0 International Friendly
31 May 2008 Hungary v Croatia D 1-1 International Friendly
08 Jun 2008 Austria v Croatia W 0-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
12 Jun 2008 Croatia v Germany W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Finals Group B
20 Jun 2008 Croatia v Turkey L 1-1 (1-3) UEFA European Championship Finals quarter-final
06 Sep 2008 Croatia v Kazakhstan W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
10 Sep 2008 Croatia v England L 1-4 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
11 Oct 2008 Ukraine v Croatia D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.