{
  "id": 12875793,
  "title": "Kovac's tough love has Dortmund dreaming of title charge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/kovacs-tough-love-has-dortmund-dreaming-of-title-charge",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-08T13:08:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kovacs-tough-love-dortmund-dreaming-130815716.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Borussia Dortmund's coach Niko Kovac is defying expectations with his stable and disciplined approach to the game, leading the team to their best start in the Bundesliga in over a decade. Former Bayern Munich boss Kovac, who joined Dortmund in January 2025, was initially viewed as an underwhelming choice, but his no-nonsense tactics have now had the team dreaming of their first league title since 2012. After winning all of their first four games, Dortmund are currently two points clear of Bayern at the top of the table. Kovac's approach, which focuses on defensive stability, discipline and fitness, has transformed the once glass-jawed team into one of the toughest units in the Bundesliga. Despite initial criticism from fans and players alike, Dortmund's CEO Carsten Cramer has confirmed that they intend to extend Kovac's contract, with the coach himself maintaining a realistic and positive outlook.",
  "summary": "Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac is defying his critics so far this season, having guided the team to their best start to a Bundesliga campaign in over a decade.After losing four of his first six league games at Dortmund, Kovac ultimately guided the team to Champions League qualification in 2025 and a comfortable second-place finish behind Bayern last season.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}