Monaco’s decision to sack Niko Kovac looks like an unforced error | Adam White

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The Croatian transformed Monaco from relegation contenders to title challengers in his 18 months in charge

By Adam White for Get French Football News

Monaco’s shock removal of Niko Kovac over Christmas fell somewhere between eye-wateringly ruthless and bafflingly naive. Before Kovac was appointed in the summer of 2020, relegation was Monaco’s greatest concern. Thierry Henry’s disastrous reign was followed by the ill-advised re-appointment of Leonardo Jardim, who had won the title with the club in 2017, before he was sacked for the second time in 14 months in December 2019. Spanish coach Robert Moreno then lasted just 13 games before Kovac arrived. Monaco barely survived, finishing 17th in the 2018-19 season before struggling to ninth in the following campaign. Nevertheless, Kovac’s team entered the final day of last season with a chance of winning the title.

Although the Croatian benefited from the arrivals of Kevin Volland and Caio Henrique, Monaco’s squad was hardly overhauled during lockdown. Kovac’s energetic young side, balanced out by the experience of Volland, Cesc Fàbregas and Wissam Ben Yedder, played dynamic, effective football in a fluid 3-6-1/4-4-2 system and slowly gathered momentum last season.

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from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/10/monaco-sack-niko-kovac-unforced-error-ligue-1

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