Robert Kovac

[davor_suker]

Unsung hero and scourge of top strikers


24.02.2005 Tuesday saw Claudio Pizarro come of age in the Champions League, prompting panic in the Arsenal back four and claiming a game-winning brace. Pre-match expectations had centred on a different super striker, namely the Gunners' lightning-quick Thierry Henry. However, the France hitman was an anonymous figure at the Olympic stadium, mainly thanks to a masterful containing display by Robert Kovac.

Respected football weekly kicker rated Kovac alongside Pizarro as Bayern's best player. At the equivalent stage of the same competition a year ago, Kovac neutralised the threat posed by another world-class goal-getter, Ronaldo of Real Madrid. An unsung hero in the Bayern rearguard, "Robby" is fast earning a reputation as the scourge of the world's best strikers. Kovac is in scintillating form, with a challenges-won percentage currently at an impressive 75 percent.

Unsurprisingly, the club would like to extend the 30 year-old's contract which expires in the summer. "We've sat down and talked once and we have another discussion coming up next week, so let's wait and see," the player commented cautiously. Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge indicated money was the main issue to be solved: "It's always about cash," the chairman declared. The Berlin-born centre-half cannot be doing his chances of a lucrative new deal any harm at the moment, although he insists: "The contract negotiations have nothing to do with it."

"It's actually more because I came through mid-season training uninjured, so I'm finding it easier to play consistently well," Kovac continued, reflecting on a change of fortune in terms of fitness.

Another factor is the increasingly close understanding between the Croatia international and fellow stopper Lucio. "We're communicating a lot more now than we did at the start, and it's obvious it's working better between us," Kovac remarked. He appears an ideal foil for the flamboyant Brazilian: "I always stay deep when he makes his charges forwards." Lucio even pops up as a third striker from time to time, but Kovac rarely crosses the halfway line. "I get forward once or twice a game but obviously he's doing it more often, so I'm trying to cover for him at the back."

The club management has not failed to be impressed by the Reds' new defensive solidity since Christmas, and officials will do what they can to ensure the Lucio - Kovac partnership continues at the heart of the defence into next term.

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Good to hear, hopefully Bayern resign him.

[Mirko Mandic]

no way memba the problems around october last year they didnt play him i say go to Stutgardt or Weder.

[majmun]

Good to hear, I hope he doesn't go to one of those clubs because they dont compare to Bayern in the long run.

[PrAvI HrVaT]

Why what was wrong with lucio-kovac patner ship?

[majmun]

Nothing, they are just communicating better and more now.

[Mirko Mandic]

Good to hear, I hope he doesn't go to one of those clubs because they dont compare to Bayern in the long run.

bro he is going to retire in 2/3 years the bloke is like 31 years old he has like the WC and thats it !!!!!

[davor_suker]

bro he is going to retire in 2/3 years the bloke is like 31 years old he has like the WC and thats it !!!!!

Hes a defender, hes still got some life in him yet. I think we will see him at euro2008.

Stuttgart or Werder??? If he goes anywhere i think the most likely destination would be Hertha, but hes still one of the best and is playing well at Bayern.

Not playing at the beginning of the season? That doesnt matter because hes proven himself to Magath and i cant think of any match where he hasnt played the full 90 minutes.

[Mirko Mandic]

Hes a defender, hes still got some life in him yet. I think we will see him at euro2008.

Stuttgart or Werder??? If he goes anywhere i think the most likely destination would be Hertha, but hes still one of the best and is playing well at Bayern.

Not playing at the beginning of the season? That doesnt matter because hes proven himself to Magath and i cant think of any match where he hasnt played the full 90 minutes.

so u would want a player thats 35 chasing after the likes of Defoe,Rooney,F.Torres. at Euro2008??? i would not id rather Vedran Jese he would be faster and by then have expirience remember WC2002 Prosi i Suker su jeli govna protive meksike i ja to necu u 2008.

[davor_suker]

so u would want a player thats 35 chasing after the likes of Defoe,Rooney,F.Torres. at Euro2008??? i would not id rather Vedran Jese he would be faster and by then have expirience remember WC2002 Prosi i Suker su jeli govna protive meksike i ja to necu u 2008.

Its not all about running a player down, its jockeying, finding space, reading the game.
Look at Maldini and Costacurta, they are all in their late 30s and still play in the league with the best defenders.

[PrAvI HrVaT]

Its not all about running a player down, its jockeying, finding space, reading the game.
Look at Maldini and Costacurta, they are all in their late 30s and still play in the league with the best defenders.

True but as mirko said, he will have experiance by then.

[*croatia*]

ther`s a roumor that juve is interested for him too! ...and that they sent him an offer!
man, i would realy like to see him play in Torino

[davor_suker]

ther`s a roumor that juve is interested for him too! ...and that they sent him an offer!
man, i would realy like to see him play in Torino

I love Juventus but to see Robert go there would be terrible, unless he is converted into a rightback he could compete with Zebina but in the centre theres no space for him.

[davor_suker]

Kovac in control
Wednesday, 9 March 2005
By Matthew Allen




FC Bayern München defender Robert Kovac is a man of few words who prefers to let his performances on the pitch do the talking. He decribes himself on the club website as being "quiet, honest and helpful" while his personal motto is: "In quietness lies power".

Arsenal trip
But the Croatian international is also quietly confident that Bayern will progress to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Arsenal FC when they take a 3-1 advantage to Highbury on Wednesday. 'Robby' had a typically commanding game in the first leg at the Olympiastadion as Bayern's defence effectively shackled the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and José Antonio Reyes. Defender Kolo Touré handed the Gunners a lifeline two minutes from time but Kovac is confident they will win the tie.

Good result
"Our chances would be better if we had won 3-0 because Arsenal would have had to score three times in the return leg just to go into extra time," Kovac told uefa.com. "But the result was good and we have a very good foundation for winning in London. If we play as well as we did in the first leg then we have a good chance of progressing to the next round.

Concentration crucial
"I don't know Highbury, but I guess the atmosphere is like in any other English stadium. We know that the fans can carry the home players with their euphoria, so we will have to concentrate hard for the whole match."

Bergkamp danger
He warned against sitting back and letting Arsenal dictate the game. "Arsenal have excellent attacking players and even if you don't see much of them for 80 minutes they have the ability to have a sudden flash of inspiration which makes them very unpredictable," he said. "[Dennis] Bergkamp is a very important player for Arsenal and they will want him back. He controls the ball very well, he is very strong at dribbling and connects very well with Henry.

Defensive danger
"If all we do is defend and let them come at us then we will probably concede some goals. We must not defend too deep but must also play well up front, that is the best way of getting a good result."

Ballack boost
Bayern are boosted by the return from injury of midfielder Sebastian Deisler and their talisman Michael Ballack, who headed the winning goal against Werder Bremen at the weekend to keep Bayern top of the Bundesliga. "We are playing well together and are on top form at the moment. Those results have really helped boost our confidence," Kovac said. "Michael is really important for the team and gives us extra options with his aerial power while Sebastian always fights hard for us."

Europe's best
Kovac joined Bayern from Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2001, shortly after the Munich club last lifted the Champions League, but the Bavarians have failed to advance beyond the last eight in their last three attempts, a record the Croatian wants to put straight. He said: "All the teams left in the competition will be difficult to beat because they are the best teams in Europe. But from now on any team can win as we are at the knockout stage and Bayern are holding good cards."



Quiet life
Kovac's contract expires in the summer but he refuses to let the uncertainty unsettle him. "I go about life in a quiet way and don't let hectic things get to me," he said. "I prefer to deal with things in a controlled manner and enjoy my life that way too."

[Mirko Mandic]

NJEMAÄŒKA: Robert KovaÄ?: Minimalni izgledi za ostanak u Bayernu
Dodao: TB - Ponedjeljak, Ožuljak 14, 2005 - 20:07:42 ::32
Hrvatski reprezentativac Robert KovaÄ? izjavio je kako će sredinom svibnja odluÄ?iti gdje će nastaviti karijeru, odnosno hoće li pristati na uvjete koje mu nudi Bayern ili će napustiti Muenchen. Naime, nakon Å¡to su proÅ¡log tjedna do medija doprle informacije kako je KovaÄ? potpisao za Juventus, hrvatski braniÄ? to je demantirao, no najavio je mogućnost odlaska iz Bayerna. KovaÄ?u ljetos istiÄ?e ugovor s Nijemcima, a hrvatski reprezentativac i njemaÄ?ki klub zasad ne mogu naći zajedniÄ?ku toÄ?ku. KovaÄ? je ponovo demantirao ponudu Juventusa, te je rekao kako su on i njegov menadžer razgovarali s nekoliko klubova, ali ne želi spominjati njihova imena.