Bruno Labbadia returns to VfB Stuttgart. Rumors about his return had increased in the past few days, and the Bundesliga club has now confirmed the commitment.
Bruno Labbadia knows his way around VfB Stuttgart very well. The 56-year-old coached the Swabians from 2010 to 2013. Now he is returning to his old place of work. VfB Stuttgart confirmed the commitment on Monday.
Bruno Labbadia wants to lead VfB to stay up
“Bruno is an experienced coach who knows the Bundesliga and has proven at all stations that he can stabilize and improve teams,” said Alexander Wehrle, CEO of VfB, in a press release from the club.
Labbadia thus enters the Successor to Pellegrino Matarazzo on. The American was released on October 10 after nine consecutive Bundesliga games without a win. The Stuttgart team is currently in relegation place 16 and, like last season, are threatened with relegation.
VfB is in relegation place 16 in the middle of a relegation battle
Most recently, assistant coach Michael Wimmer looked after the VfB team as interim coach and won three home wins from six Bundesliga games. Wimmer had also been traded as a possible new head coach in the past few weeks, especially sports director Sven Mislintat, who was fired on Wednesday had repeatedly campaigned for the 42-year-old. The Swabians have now announced that the club and Wimmer have agreed to end their collaboration with immediate effect.
“Now is the moment for me to take the next step and take on a new challenge. It was an eventful and instructive year at VfB, after which I now feel ready to work permanently as head coach,” said Wimmer.
Labbadia led VfB to the Europa League and the DFB Cup final
Bruno Labbadia’s first term at VfB was marked by success. The former Bundesliga top scorer replaced Jens Keller on December 12, 2010 and saved Stuttgart from imminent relegation. Labbadia reached the Europa League with the Swabians and was with VfB in the DFB Cup final in Berlin in 2013, where Stuttgart lost 2-3 to FC Bayern. After a weak start to the 2013/14 season and three defeats, the Darmstadt native ended on August 26, 2013.
Training starts on December 12th
VfB wants to start team training again on December 12th. Then the new old coach Bruno Labbadia will officially be on the pitch for the first time in his new term.