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BERLIN, Nov. 3-- Niko Kovac's dismissal as coach of Bayern Munich this Sunday evening might have come as a surprise at this point. The divorce, though, was overdue. The 48-year-old is said to have offered his resignation after a second crisis meeting with chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, president Uli Hoeness and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic after he had supervised the morning training session after the disastrous 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt. Kovac again didn't receive the support he demanded to lead his team out of the crisis. Germany's 2017 World Cup assistant coach Hansi Flick is most likely only a temporary solution as Kovac's successor, while speculations include former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag and Thomas Tuchel of Paris St Germain. Former Leipzig coach Ralf Rangnick, former Juve coach Massimo Allegri and Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho might have outside chances. Appointing Flick is providing time to investigate future options. The lack of support, though, is only one of several reasons for the separation from Kovac. It is by far not only the former midfielder who is to blame for the 2013 treble winners' turmoil. The former Croatian national coach from his start in summer 2018 had to live with his boss's disunity about his position and expectations about the team's development. In his first year, Kovac had to deal with a squad collected by his predecessors and the club leaders. On top, he had to manage a problematic generation change having to moderate the career end of legends such as Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. | 
