Bayern Munich reveal Niko Kovac was THIRD choice to become new boss after Jupp Heynckes and Thomas Tuchel rejected offers
Germans turned to their former player to take over next season after failing with their top targets
BAYERN MUNICH have revealed Niko Kovac was their third choice to take over next season.
Eintracht Frankfurt boss Kovac, 46, was a shock choice from the Bundesliga giants.
The Germans failed to convince Jupp Heynckes to extend his deal and were snubbed by Thomas Tuschel.
Supremo Uli Hoeness told "It was portrayed as having a desperate search.
"Both of us and Hasan [Salihamidzic] have tried for a very, very long time to persuade Jupp.
"When we realised in a final, final conversation that he was not doing it, we were talking to the coach, who was free, Thomas Tuchel.
Latest Bayern Munich news
"He told us that he had already decided. That was a shame, but not a shock for us.
"He also had no contract offer, but it was the offer of a mutual conversation with us both, with Hasan he had met before.
ROAD TO KIEV Champions League draw: Liverpool handed favourable Roma draw as Bayern Munich take on Real Madrid
"Then a few days later we met again internally and decided that our preferred candidate is now Niko Kovac. And that's how it happened."
Croatian Kovac played for Bayern from 2001 to 2003 and has taken Frankfurt from relegation battlers to European contenders since taking over in 2016.
And veteran boss Heynckes, 72, is confident his replacement will succeed.
He said: "Kovac generally makes a very positive impression.
"Above all, he is very diligent, which you do not always have.
"He is innovative, he is one who loves football and also has good communication with his players which I have also experienced.'
Kovac arrived at Frankfurt in 2016 and has led them from the brink of relegation to a possible European spot for next season with them sat in sixth and five points off Bayern Leverkusen.