VfB Stuttgart fires coach Bruno Labbadia

VfB Stuttgart has fired coach Bruno Labbadia. This was announced by the bottom of the table in the Bundesliga on Monday. His successor will be Sebastian Hoeneß.

The 40-year-old Hoeneß will receive a “non-league” contract until 2025 and should take care of the team in the cup on Wednesday.

“We would like to thank Bruno Labbadia for the work he has done. We signed Bruno last December because we were firmly convinced that we could start a turnaround with him. Bruno has worked with the team from day one with great commitment and great passion, unfortunately But this didn’t pay off in the form of points. Ultimately, we came to the realization that we needed a new impetus,” said VfB CEO Alexander Wehrle in the club’s press release.

And further: “Sebastian Hoeneß has already gained important experience in the Bundesliga and, as a coach, also knows the youth and transition areas very well. We are certain that Sebastian is the right coach for the upcoming challenges and that he and the team will meet them difficult situation.”

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Hoeneß explained: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge at VfB and would like to thank you for the trust and the good discussions with those responsible. I have a great emotional connection to VfB. I’ve been with the club as a fan since I was young, here I have I played for several years as a youth and won the German championship title with the U17 in 1999. We now have three tasks, in exactly this order:

1. To make the cup game in Nuremberg successful.
2. To stay up in the Bundesliga.
3. 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.”

Labbadia was only discontinued on December 5, 2022. He took over from Michael Wimmer, who previously replaced Pellegrino Matarazzo. Labbadia only managed one win in eleven Bundesliga games for the Swabians, in which VfB only collected six points and lost seven times.

The DFB Cup quarter-finals at 1. FC Nürnberg are scheduled for VfB on Wednesday. Next Sunday, Stuttgart will be in the Bundesliga for a relegation duel at VfL Bochum.

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