VfL Wolfsburg appoints Tobias Strobl as new head coach

VfL Wolfsburg has appointed Tobias Strobl as their new head coach, securing the 38-year-old's services until the summer of 2028. Strobl joins from third-division club SC Verl, where he guided the team to a sixth-place finish last season. He succeeds Dieter Hecking, who was promoted to managing director after the team's relegation playoff loss to SC Paderborn and was responsible for finding his own successor.

The decision to appoint Strobl comes as a surprise, as Wolfsburg has historically pursued top-tier coaches, including Alexander Blessin from FC St. Pauli, who was considered a favorite this time. Hecking praised Strobl, highlighting his "great energy and a clear vision for football." He also noted Strobl's experience in developing players and molding teams, citing his impressive work at Verl.

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a trainer with great energy and a clear vision for football, who brings a lot of experience to Wolfsburg despite his young age.

Strobl's coaching career includes stints with 1. FC Schweinfurt 05 and the second team of FC Augsburg before his move to Verl in 2025. Wolfsburg faces its first season in the second division in nearly 30 years after losing the relegation playoff to SC Paderborn. Despite their budget, the club is considered a strong contender for promotion. They recently confirmed the signing of top second-division striker Fraser Hornby from Darmstadt for a reported four million euros.

The article also touches on Wolfsburg's financial backing from VW, suggesting that even significant investment cannot compensate for poor management. The author notes that competition with investor-backed clubs remains unfair.

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How to shape a team and develop players, bring them to a new level, he has not only impressively proven that recently in Verl.