Speaking ahead of the clash at the Allianz Arena, the 72-year-old told the club's official website: "I had attractive years at Borussia, and I've been a decisive player in the club's history".

"Niko Kovac will be the new coach of FC Bayern from 1 July, 2018", said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

He also says that Bayern did not contact him until Thursday when they offered him a three-year deal that the former Bayern player couldn't refuse.

"It's disrespectful. We will not talk about it with Bayern now, but we will look for dialogue again in the near future".

Bayern, who have already sealed their sixth consecutive Bundesliga title, are on course for a Treble.

"Niko played at Bayern and knows those responsibilitiesas well as the structures and the DNA of the club very well".

Kovac will be joined at Bayern by his younger brother Robert as assistant coach.

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The 2022 World Cup will be hosted in Qatar, the first time the tournament will take place in the Middle East. To go to the World Cup and introduce this system in the World Cup, I think it is not very clever.

A Champions League final for Bayern would be a fitting end to the career of coach Jupp Heynckes, whose last game after his first retirement was the 2013 final.

Though Arturo Vidal's Chile will not be at the tournament, James' Colombia will, and with the in-form Bayern man coupled with the likes of Radamel Falcao, Thiago believes the South American nation will make an impact along with Belgium, inspired by Manchester City's former Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen man Kevin De Bruyne. And in a one-off game against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, Liverpool are a match for either. "It's hard for me now that it's ending soon".

Putting the numbers to one side, close your eyes and images of some of the previous, colourful run-ins with Bayern start to emerge - many of which Madrid would rather forget... Champions League qualification is possible this season after another stellar campaign.

The Spanish giants have owned the tournament in recent years, becoming the first club in history to win it in its modern format in back-to-back seasons last year. Lewandowski put Bayern ahead from the spot early in the second half, but after Ronaldo equalised, Sergio Ramos put through his own net to restore parity in the tie.

Frankfurt can still win a title this season as Kovac's men clash with Schalke in the German Cup semi finals on Wednesday.

DW profiles the Berlin-born Croat to see what Bayern can expect from their new coach.

Kovac is relatively inexperienced - Eintracht was his first club job and he was only appointed in March 2016. It proved the turning point: Ronaldo equalised after half-time, Javi Martinez was dismissed and the Portuguese added a second in the closing stages.