“We thank Bruno Labbadia for the work he has done. We signed Bruno last December because we were firmly convinced that we could turn things around with him. Bruno worked with the team from day one with great commitment and great passion, but unfortunately this didn’t pay off in the form of points. Ultimately, we came to the realization that we needed a new impetus,” says VfB CEO Alexander Wehrle. “Sebastian Hoeneß has already gained important experience in the Bundesliga and, as a coach, knows the youth and transition areas very well. We are sure that Sebastian is the right coach for the upcoming challenges and that he will master this difficult situation together with the team.”
VfB sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth says: “Bruno Labbadia accepted the big challenge last December. Under difficult circumstances, he tried many things to get the team back on the road to success. The turnaround didn’t work out and despite good performances in some cases, we continued to lose ground in the fight for staying up in the league in the past few weeks. We thank Bruno for his commitment to VfB and wish him all the best for the future.”
Fabian Wohlgemuth continues: “It’s about the immediate effect, but also about what we want to push at VfB beyond the end of the season. Sebastian Hoeneß has proven that he can lead teams and at the same time have a very positive influence on the development of individual players. As a coach, Sebastian knows both how to deal with top talent in the youth field and professional football – he will quickly find the right approach. With this profile and the way he works, he is the right man for us. We are delighted that Sebastian has decided to join VfB and together with him we will do everything we can to make the fight for relegation a success.”
Sebastian Hoeneß says: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge at VfB and thank you for the trust and the good discussions with those responsible. I have a great emotional connection to VfB. I was a fan of the club when I was young, I played here myself for several years and won the German championship title in 1999 with the U17s. We now have three tasks, in this order:
- To make the cup game in Nuremberg successful.
- To stay up in the Bundesliga.
- After the season, together with the sporting management, to carry out a clear analysis in order to take the necessary steps for a successful future for VfB Stuttgart.”
Sebastian Hoeneß, a former youth player at VfB, worked as a trainer in the youth divisions of RB Leipzig and FC Bayern, among others. With the second team of FC Bayern, he celebrated the championship in the 3rd division. In the Bundesliga, Sebastian Hoeneß coached TSG Hoffenheim.