Robert Kovac, are there times when you don't agree with your brother? Kovac: "Of course, there are times when we don't agree. But we talk about it and always end up agreeing."“
When you played together at Leverkusen you often shared a room for away matches. How do you remember your time at Bayer 04? Kovac: "Those years at Bayer 04 are amongst the best in my career as a footballer. Not just because I played alongside my brother for three years but also because there was a huge and positive change in mood after almost being relegated."
Tin Jedvaj made his international debut under you as national coach. How do you assess his potential and development?
Kovac: "The potential is definitely there and he's very talented but he still has to keep on working and developing his game. Personally, I see him more as a central defender than as a full-back."„
Since March you've been together at Eintracht Frankfurt who were involved in a relegation battle last season. Your first task as a coach in the Bundesliga could easily have been more straightforward, couldn't it?
Kovac: "Of course, we would have preferred the season to have run more smoothly. But it was a very big challenge that we mastered together."
What have you learned from the difficult and the successful times?
Kovac: "That we managed to stay up despite the enormous pressure – and that with the support of our fans, everyone around us and the whole region."
How do you rate Eintracht's chances this season?
Kovac: "I think our chances of securing top-flight status early on are better this season."
15 years have gone by – Will the match in Leverkusen still be special for you?
Kovac: "They’re always special games because I still know people from here and I'm always happy to catch up with them again."
What do Eintracht need to do to win?
Kovac: "Very good luck, a united team performance and the support of our fans."
Issa Traoré is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin. The club has loaned the centre-back out for one year to this year’s ninth-placed team in the Slovakian league.
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Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman is leaving the Bayer 04 Women’s team with immediate effect to take up a new challenge abroad. The club has agreed to the 31-year-old’s request to leave, although his contract was originally due to run until 2027. A decision on his successor will be announced shortly.
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At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.
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Two weeks into the preseason, the Bayer 04 Women have secured their first victory. Coach Roberto Pätzold’s team won their first friendly 2–0 against Bundesliga newcomers Mainz 05. In front of 160 spectators at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, the two summer signings, Maja Sternad (80’) and Justine Brandau (90’), scored for the Black and Reds.
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