Niko Kovac, former coach of Bayern Munich, was dismissed this Sunday

Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga champion, announced that Niko Kovac was dismissed this Sunday, one day after a painful 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt and after a disappointing October.

"Niko Kovac is no longer the coach of FC Bayern," said the club in an official statement, specifying that the decision was made by president Uli Hoeness, his right-hand man Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic, also in agreement with Niko Kovac.

"Until further notice, assistant coach Hans Flick will take charge of the team, especially to prepare for the important matches against Olympiakos in the Champions League this Wednesday and against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday," stated the chairman Rummenigge, as quoted in the statement.

"The performances of our team in recent weeks and their results have shown us that it was necessary to take action," explained the Bayern executive, justifying the club's decision. "On behalf of Bayern, I want to thank Niko Kovac for his work and especially for winning the double (Bundesliga and German Cup) last season," he added.

Meanwhile, sports director Salihamidzic demanded a reaction from the team: "I now expect a positive attitude and an absolute willingness from our players to do well, so that we can achieve our goals this season." The reigning Bundesliga champions have won only five of their first ten league matches this season (18 points).

This is their worst start in the tournament since the 2010-2011 season and Bayern are four points behind the leader, Borussia Mönchengladbach. Saturday's 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt was the heaviest for Bayern in a decade in the national championship, since their identical result loss in April 2009 in Wolfsburg.

"I believe that it is the right decision at the right time for the club," Kovac himself said. He had been in the position since before the 2018-2019 season, when he succeeded veteran Jupp Heynckes. "The results and our game in recent times have led me to this conclusion," admitted the former coach of Bayern Munich.