Croatia international Niko Kovac has been told he will not be offered a new contract by Hertha Berlin when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old midfielder is a veteran of over 230 Bundesliga games during two spells with Hertha and stays with Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburg and Bayern Munich, but his playing days in Germany's top-flight appear to be over.

Hertha's general manager Dieter Hoeness told the Berliner Morgenpost: "It was not an easy chat, because I rate Niko very highly both for his ability and as a person.

"If Niko decides to end his career and wants to remain involved in football, then he should come and talk to us."

Kovac is still a regular in the Croatia side and will play alongside his brother, the Juventus defender Robert Kovac, at the World Cup finals.