Why Hansi Flick is an upgrade over Niko Kovac at Bayern Munich?

1 of 3

MUNICH, GERMANY – JULY 08: Niko Kovac (R), head coach of FC Bayern Munich, and Hansi Flick, assistant coach of FC Bayern Muenchen, are seen during a training session on July 08, 2019, in Munich, Germany. The team of FC Bayern Muenchen is back in training, preparing for the next Bundesliga season that will kick of fon August 16, 2019. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Hansi Flick arrived in the aftermath of a dismal campaign under Niko Kovac and has been influential since his arrival as Bayern Munich gained momentum halfway through the Hinrunde

Despite Niko Kovac adding two more pieces of silverware in Bayern’s trophy cabinet during the previous season, the Croatian remained under tight scrutiny from the senior executives, especially due to poor performance observed in the first half of the 2018/19 season.

Enter 2019/20 season, Bayern Munich had hit rock bottom following a five-one defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in matchday ten that saw them slipping to the fourth spot, losing ground to Borussia Monchengladbach. This defeat was the last nail in the coffin as Niko Kovac was given his marching orders from the head coach position at Saebener Strasse.

With big names like Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel, and Erik Ten Hag being listed as potential replacements, Bayern Munich decided to appoint Hans-Dieter Flick as the interim head coach.

Bayern bounced back with a bang under the guidance of Hansi Flick as the reigning German champions went on a winning run of four games across all competitions without conceding any goal. They also sealed their progression to the last 16 of the UCL with aplomb.

Flick seemed to have showered Bayern with a new flair, removing any doubts raised on Bayern’s reverence as a dominant German football club. To put things in perspective, Hansi Flick managed to win 80% of his games compared with 64% games won by Kovac during the current campaign. As a result of this impressive feat, Bayern’s executives awarded Flick with a permanent head coach position until the end of this season.

Speaking with fcbayern.com, club chairman and CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expressed his contentment with Flick’s success so far:

"“ We at FC Bayern are very satisfied with Hansi Flick’s work. Under him as head coach, the on-field development has been outstanding, both in terms of the quality of our play and the results achieved. “We set a new record in the 28-year history of the Champions League with six wins in six matches in the group stage, and in the Bundesliga we have returned to touching distance of the top of the table. I am convinced that FC Bayern will continue next year where we left off in the last few games, namely playing attractive and successful football. On behalf of FC Bayern as a whole, I wish Hansi Flick every success.”"

Bayern are now placed on the third spot in the Bundesliga with just four points separating them from league leaders, RB Leipzig. With the Rukrunde ready to kick-off in almost two weeks, we analyze what changed at Bayern following Flick’s appointment as Bayern chase their eighth consecutive Meisterschale and a potential redemption as Europe’s best.