Determined and highly motivated, Sebastian Hoeneß stepped onto the podium when he was introduced as the new coach of VfB Stuttgart.
The successor to Bruno Labbadia, who was released on Monday, should save the bottom of the Bundesliga table from being relegated for the third time since 2016. “We are firmly convinced that he is the right coach,” said CEO Alexander Wehrle.
These words sounded similar to those that Wehrle had chosen four months earlier when Labbadia was presented. Now the 48-year-old is once again hoping for the long-awaited turnaround. After Pellegrino Matarazzo, interim coach Michael Wimmer and Labbadia, Hoeneß is the fourth coach in Wehrles for a little over a year as the Swabians’ CEO. Only in the 1998/99 season had they hired four coaches in a Bundesliga season. The club’s situation is precarious – and Wehrle is also under increasing pressure.
New coach Hoeneß, who has been without a club since June 30, 2022, was one of the candidates that the VfB management had dealt with after the separation from Matarazzo in October. At that time, Wehrle and Wohlgemuth predecessor Sven Mislintat decided after a phone call with Sebastian Hoeneß’ father and advisor Dieter not to seek direct contact with the former coach of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. “It is well known that there was a different sporting constellation at the time and that is why there were no discussions with Sebastian at the time,” explained Wehrle.
Cup quarterfinals against 1. FC Nuremberg
In the meantime the situation has changed. VfB is even worse off in the league and, curiously, will play their fourth cup game this season with the fourth coach in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup at second division club 1. FC Nürnberg on Wednesday (6 p.m. / Sky).
Hoeneß wasn’t surprised when the VfB bosses contacted him, he said himself. Instead, he was happy. The 40-year-old made a fresh and rested impression at his presentation on Tuesday. Hoeneß, who played for VfB himself in his youth, was also attentive – for example when Stuttgart’s press spokesman wanted to give the floor to a journalist prematurely. Hoeneß interrupted him because he hadn’t answered part of the previous question.
But time is short. To get to know the team, Hoeneß only had one real session before the game in Nuremberg. There is only one activation left on the day of the match. “Of course there is a plan. But it is extremely important that we approach the matter with a certain amount of pragmatism,” said Hoeneß, who believes in the quality of the team. “This game is a huge opportunity for us as a club. We want to take the next step there towards Berlin.” The final will take place in the capital on June 3rd.
Another – and more important – goal is to stay in the class. VfB is two points behind the relegation place 16, but already five to the saving 15th place. “The team has potential. Now it’s about exploiting this potential in order to survive against other teams,” said Hoeneß.
Before his first exam, the new coach benefits from the fact that he has no failures to complain about. Striker Serhou Guirassy returned after recovering from an adductor injury in the 3-0 loss at 1. FC Union Berlin last weekend. The determination of VfB’s top scorer of the season so far matches Hoeneß’s charisma. The coach announced that he wanted to ensure a “change in mood”. This is also urgently needed if the Stuttgart team wants to survive in the relegation battle.
