| Niko Bungert | |
| Fullname: | Niko Bungert |
| Birth Date: | 24 October 1986 |
| Birth Place: | Bochum, West Germany |
| Currentclub: | Mainz 05 (staff) |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Youthyears1: | 1989–1996 |
| Youthclubs1: | VfB Günnigfeld |
| Youthyears2: | 1996–2004 |
| Youthclubs2: | SG Wattenscheid 09 |
| Youthyears3: | 2004–2005 |
| Youthclubs3: | Schalke 04 |
| Years1: | 2005–2006 |
| Clubs1: | Schalke 04 II |
| Caps1: | 25 |
| Goals1: | 4 |
| Years2: | 2006–2008 |
| Clubs2: | Kickers Offenbach |
| Caps2: | 52 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2008–2019 |
| Clubs3: | Mainz 05 |
| Caps3: | 198 |
| Goals3: | 9 |
| Years4: | 2010–2016 |
| Clubs4: | Mainz 05 II |
| Caps4: | 4 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2008 |
| Nationalteam1: | Germany U21 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 3 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 2019–2020 |
| Managerclubs1: | Mainz 05 (assistant) |
| Manageryears2: | 2021 |
| Managerclubs2: | Mainz 05 (assistant) |
| Manageryears3: | 2024 |
| Managerclubs3: | Mainz 05 (assistant) |
Niko Bungert (born 24 October 1986) is a retired German footballer who played as a defender. [1] [2]
He was also a member of the German U-21 team. He was part of the Schalke youth team that won the Youth DFB-Pokal in 2005.
After Bungert chose to hang up his boots after the 2018-19 season, he joined Mainz 05 as part of a trainee program to work at the club.[3] At the end of November 2019, Bungert joined newly appointed head coach Achim Beierlorzer's staff, where he would act as assistant coach.[4] He returned to his trainee program in July 2020.[5]
On August 15, 2021, Bungert had to step in as deputy assistant coach ahead of a match against RB Leipzig, as head coach Bo Svensson's two assistants were both in COVID-19 quarantine. Mainz sensationally won 1-0 with a reserve team, as a large part of the squad was in quarantine.[6] In November 2021, Bungert became the club's first ever Club Ambassador.[7]
On January 1, 2024, Bungert was again promoted to the role of assistant coach, this time under Jan Siewert.[8] After the end of the season, Mainz announced that Bungert would not be an assistant coach in the new season and would take on another, unnamed, role at the club. [9]