'Very surprised' - Niko Kovac addresses Everton manager rumours
Former Bayern Munich and Monaco manager Niko Kovac was linked with the Everton manager's job before the appointment of Frank Lampard
Former Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac has addressed rumours that linked him with the Everton manager’s job.
Rafa Benitez’s sacking last month led to a host of names being linked with the vacancy at Goodison Park, before Frank Lampard was appointed on transfer deadline day.
Other names linked with the job, before Lampard’s appointment, included Vitor Pereira, Wayne Rooney and Kovac.
Kovac managed Bayern from 2018-19, and was more recently in charge of Monaco.
READ MORE: Everton release 'game-changer' new stadium statement as brand set for change at Bramley-Moore Dock
He left the Ligue 1 club on New Year’s Day, and he was soon linked with the manager’s job at Everton.
However, despite the rumours, Kovac has revealed that he was never approached by Everton to be under consideration to be their new manager.
“I was very surprised that my name was reported everywhere,” Kovac told Sport Bild, via HITC .
“Nobody spoke to me. I want to do something again from the summer and not replace someone in the middle.
“(Club football) is really very intense. Especially when you play every three days, travel a lot and also have to watch other games.
“So I said to myself that I needed some free time. I want to do everything that I couldn’t do in the past.”