BERLIN, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Niko Kovac has been appointed new head coach of Borussia Dortmund, CEO Lars Ricken confirmed the agreement following Dortmund's 3-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in UEFA Champions League match on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old Croatian will officially take charge on Sunday.

Kovac has signed a contract until 2026 and will be joined by his 50-year-old brother Robert as assistant coach. Coaching has long been a family affair for the Kovac brothers, who have worked together with the Croatia national team and clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, Monaco and Wolfsburg. Their coaching accolades include winning the Bundesliga with Bayern in 2019 and securing the German Cup with both Frankfurt (2018) and Bayern (2019).

Dortmund's under-19 coach, Mike Tullberg, temporarily stepped in after the dismissal of previous head coach Nuri Sahin, and will lead the team for Saturday's Bundesliga match against Heidenheim before Kovac officially assumes his duties. The new head coach will make his debut on the sidelines against Stuttgart on February 8, followed by a two-legged Champions League playoff against either Celtic or Manchester City.

Kovac described negotiations as "constructive" and expressed confidence in the club's ambitions. "I am convinced we can achieve the club's goals and will be entirely focused on our task," he said in an official club statement.

Dortmund's recent struggles in the Bundesliga have jeopardized their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League, making a turnaround under Kovac imperative. Ricken voiced confidence in the new appointment, emphasizing the club's belief in Kovac's ability to steer BVB back to success. Enditem

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