Third-choice is not a happy label to live with, and when Bayern Munich in April announced Niko Kovac was to become their least experienced manager for almost a decade, the phrase hung about him as a sceptical question mark.
It hardly helped that, explaining their decision, Bayern’s executives rued they had been unable to persuade the veteran Jupp Heynckes to stay on, and had contacted Thomas Tuchel to find he was already committed to Paris Saint-Germain.
Seven games into the season, though, the C-list Kovac is producing A+ grades. Bayern, top of the Bundesliga, seek to maintain their 100 per cent record in defence of the league title Heynckes guided them to in May against Augsburg on Tuesday night.
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Kovac’s Uefa Champions League debut on a touchline also passed off successfully at Benfica last week with a 2-0 win, and he has his first silverware, thanks to a thumping 5-0 win over his former employers, Eintracht Frankfurt, in the German Super Cup.
Occupying the summit of domestic football has become the minimum requirement for the club who have lifted the last six Bundesliga shields, but Kovac, 46, has levered Bayern to first place with enough signs of purposeful management to hear approving noises from the executive floors of the club’s headquarters.
Opponents had sensed that, with a new, young man in charge, and several of the club’s senior German players suffering post-World Cup gloom, Bayern might at least start the campaign vulnerable.
And the opening fixtures have been peppered with aggressive duelling, at a cost of injuries to Rafinha, the full-back and Kingsley Coman, the winger. But Kovac’s Bayern have been robust, and calm, in response.
They have also thrown up some pleasant surprises. On the scoresheet in Lisbon last week, one Renato Sanches. It had been a shock even to see the 21-year-old on the teamsheet.
The Sanches saga over the past 18 months has been assuming all the makings of a too-much-too-young parable. The Portuguese midfielder, who won Euro 2016 as a teenager having just become a Bayern signing for an initial €35 million (Dh151.3m), sunk out of the first team alarmingly soon, and finished last season on loan but scarcely deemed good enough for the bench at relegated Swansea City.
Kovac then took on the rebuilding of his morale. “He will feature regularly for us this season,” promised Kovac, who knows the player’s emotional 90 minutes in Lisbon, where he was cheered even by supporters of his old club Benfica, now looks like a shrewd, morale-boosting piece of man-management.
Neither Carlo Ancelotti, sacked last September by Bayern, nor Heynckes, the emergency replacement for Ancelotti, solved the Sanches issue.
Not has Kovac yet, and a minor muscle problem may stall the player’s renaissance for a week or so, but the sight of the midfielder playing with confidence and growing authority made a powerful point. The third-choice manager made made the C-list Sanches feel he belonged again.
There have also been votes of confidence in the likes of Niklas Sule, the giant central defender who stands back in the hierarchy from the regular pairing of Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels.
There is trust in James Rodriguez, who came to Bayern on a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid 13 months ago, and continues to be a valuable addition to the creativity of a squad already blessed with an abundance of forward-thinking talent.
That talent pool, of course, is a manager’s blessing, but it needs handling dexterously. Part of Kovac’s task is to deal with a diverse array of individuals, to coax the best out of footballers closer to his generation, like Arjen Robben, 34, and Franck Ribery, 35, and from the next, like Sanches or Leon Goretzka, the 23-year-old who was the club’s sole major recruit, from Schalke, in the summer. Goretzka marked his first Bundesliga start for Bayern, the 3-0 win over Stuttgart, with a goal and an assist.
“You notice he is still a young coach because he can think like a player does,” said goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who missed most of last season with a broken foot, of Kovac. “And you sense he knows how hard it is when a player is left out. But he makes everyone feel they have an important role to play.”
That view is echoed by Ribery, a senior figure in the dressing-room and not always the easiest of men to manage. "He definitely has the personality for a big club like this," the French winger told Kicker magazine. "He knows how to talk to players, and what makes them tick."
The weekend’s 2-0 win over Schalke gave Kovac a small milestone: a better start to his first campaign than even the feted Pep Guardiola enjoyed when he took over as Bayern’s manager in 2013.
Come Friday, Kovac's first season will have lasted longer than Ancelotti’s second did. If he can push Bayern beyond the last four of the Champions League, then nobody will talk of him as the third-choice manager who got lucky with his timing.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
More on animal trafficking
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Score
Third Test, Day 1
New Zealand 229-7 (90 ov)
Pakistan
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett
DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
