KOVAČ





Full name: Niko Kovač
Date of birth: October 15, 1971
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Nationality: Croatian
2nd nationality: German
EU passport: Yes
Height: 176 cms

Position: Defensive Midfielder [C]
Squad Number: 6
Previous clubs: Hertha Berlin > Bayer Leverkusen > Hamburger SV > Bayern München > Hertha Berlin > (free) Austria Salzburg > Retired in 2009

International debut: December 1996, v Morocco
International Caps: 84
International Goals: 15
World Cups: Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006
Intercontinental Cup (2001)
German Bundesliga (2003)
German DFB-Pokal (2003)
Austrian Bundesliga (2007, 2009)



SeasonClubCountryLevelGPGS
2007-08 Red Bull Salzburg AUT A 25 3
2006-07 Red Bull Salzburg AUT A 28 5
2005-06 Hertha Berlin GER A 28 3
2004-05 Hertha Berlin GER A 30 4
2003-04 Hertha Berlin GER A 16 1
2002-03 Bayern München GER A 18 1
2001-02 Bayern München GER A 16 2
2000-01 Hamburger SV GER A 25 4
1999-00 Hamburger SV GER A 30 8
1998-99 Bayer Leverkusen GER A 27 4
1997-98 Bayer Leverkusen GER A 18 1
1996-97 Bayer Leverkusen GER A 32 3
1995-96 Hertha Berlin GER B 31 11
1994-95 Hertha Berlin GER B 31 2
1993-94 Hertha Berlin GER B 32 1
1992-93 Hertha Berlin GER B 42 1
1991-92 Hertha Berlin GER B 12 0
Career Totals:44154


UEFA European Football Championship Austria-Switzerland 2008

DateVenueMatchMPGFASFCFSYCRC
20/06 Ernst Happel, Wien CRO 1:1 TUR
aet (1:3 PSO)		 120 0 0 5 3 0 0
12/06 Wörthersee, Klagenfurt CRO 2:1 GER 90 0 0 1 2 0 0
08/06 Ernst Happel, Wien AUT 0:1 CRO 90 0 0 0 1 0 0
Competition Totals:300006600
Competition Average:100002200

Glossary
MP: Minutes Played, GF: Goals in favor, AS: Assists, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards


FIFA World Cup Germany 2006

DateVenueMatchMPGFASFCFSYCRC
22/06 Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart CRO 2:2 AUS 90 1 0 4 2 0 0
18/06 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg JPN 0:0 CRO 90 0 0 1 1 0 0
13/06 Olympiastadion, Berlin BRA 1:0 CRO 40 0 0 1 3 1 0
Competition Totals:220106610
Competition Average:73.330.330220.330

Glossary
MP: Minutes Played, GF: Goals in favor, AS: Assists, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards


UEFA European Championship Portugal 2004

DateVenueMatchMPGFASFCFSYCRC
21/06 Estadio da Luz, Lisbon CRO 2:4 ENG 90 1 0 1 3 0 0
17/06 Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa, Leiria CRO 2:2 FRA 90 0 0 2 4 0 0
13/06 Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa, Leiria SUI 0:0 CRO 90 0 0 1 4 0 0
Competition Totals:2701041100
Competition Average:900.3301.333.6700

Glossary
MP: Minutes Played, GF: Goals in favor, AS: Assists, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards


FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 2002

DateVenueMatchMPGFASFCFSYCRC
13/06 International Stadium, Yokohama ECU 1:0 CRO 58 0 0 0 2 0 0
08/06 Kashima Stadium, Ibaraki ITA 1:2 CRO 90 0 0 5 4 0 0
03/06 Stadium Big Swan, Niigata CRO 0:1 MEX 90 0 0 5 8 0 0
Competition Totals:23800101400
Competition Average:79.33003.334.6700

Glossary
MP: Minutes Played, GF: Goals in favor, AS: Assists, FC: Fouls Committed, FS: Fouls Suffered, YC: Yellow Cards, RC: Red Cards



TitleDescription#
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1971
Born October 15 in Berlin, Germany.
2006
May: Set to leave Hertha Berlin after the Bundesliga club announced his contract will not be renewed when it expires at the season's end.
2007
April 28: Member of the Red Bull Salzburg that clinched the Austrian championship with five games to spare. It was their fourth overall, and the first since the controversial takeover by soft drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz.
2009
January 8: Decided to retire from international football. "It was a tough decision because playing for my country was everything to me," he said.
Niko Kovac · Croatia
UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

Elder brother to FC Bayern München's Robert, Niko Kovac shares with his sibling an easy-going attitude and a resolute defensive style, although his creativity has given club and country an added dimension in midfield.

National team
Born in Berlin to Croatian parents, Kovac first represented the latter country in December 1996 against Morocco and featured regularly in qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Overlooked for the final tournament, his continued determination to flourish on the international stage paid dividends as he travelled to Korea/Japan four years later and played in all three of Croatia's games.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
Anchored the midfield in both legs of the play-off victory against Slovenia after previously appearing in five of Croatia's eight qualifiers. Kovac crucially scored the only goal in Estonia and followed it up with another against Andorra.

Club
Kovac started his senior career with then second division Hertha BSC Berlin in 1991/92. He stayed at Hertha for five seasons, playing 148 league games before moving up a division to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

1996: Was soon a crowd favourite at Leverkusen, scoring three times in 32 games in his debut season. Kovac made just 18 starts the following term and in 1998/99 was chiefly used as a substitute, prompting a move to Hamburger SV.

1999: The switch revitalised this versatile performer and Kovac struck eight times in 30 games for Hamburg, his best return in four seasons. His continued excellence the following term, 2000/01, saw Bayern make their move.

2001: Kovac did not have the happiest of starts to his career at the Olympiastadion, twice injuring himself in a debut campaign in which Bayern won the title. He was also a peripheral figure the following term and in 2002/03 played in just over half Bayern's matches as they completed the German double.

2003/04: Returned to Hertha on a free transfer in June 2003 and went on to play 17 Bundesliga games, scoring once – against Bayern in October.

Did you know?
Niko and Robert also played together at Leverkusen.

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Croatia squad for the UEFA European Football Championship 2008

Croatia squad for the FIFA World Cup 2006

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