AUDIO: VfL Wolfsburg signs Tobias Strobl as head coach (1 min)
Hecking finds his successor
As of: June 3, 2026 6:44 p.m
VfL Wolfsburg has hired Tobias Strobl as their new coach. The 38-year-old is moving from third division club SC Verl to Lower Saxony, who are facing a personnel rebuild after relegation from the Bundesliga.
The native of Ingolstadt replaces Dieter Hecking, who was promoted to sports director, at the 2009 champions. Strobl signed a contract with the factory club until June 30, 2028. VfL is only his second professional station. Before his involvement in Verl last season, the former regional league player worked as a U23 coach at, among others, FC Augsburg and FC Ingolstadt and looked after 1. FC Schweinfurt 05.
“We are firmly convinced that we have found the right coach.”
Dieter Hecking
“We had a lot of discussions in a short space of time. The result was Pirmin Schwegler (Editor’s note: the sports director) and I am firmly convinced that I have found the right coach in Tobias Strobl,” said Hecking. “He is a coach with great energy and a clear idea of football who, despite his young age, already brings a lot of experience to Wolfsburg.”
He made a name for himself at FC Augsburg. “He was able to impressively demonstrate how to form a team and develop players and bring them to a new level, not only in Verl,” emphasized Hecking.
“The exchange with Dieter and Pirmin was outstanding from the first moment.”
Tobias Strobl
“I immediately had the feeling that it was a good fit and that the job at VfL Wolfsburg was something special,” said Strobl. “It really excites me to be part of it and to build something new here. I will approach this challenge with a lot of positivity, that’s my nature.”
Great successes with Verl in the premiere season
However, the 38-year-old caused a sensation with the SCV last season. The team fought for promotion for a long time and played attractive football. In the end, the coach achieved the best third division placement in the club’s history with the team finishing sixth in the table. In addition, the victory in the Westphalia Cup ensured qualification for the DFB Cup – an important source of income for the small club.
Strobl’s signing is a surprise despite his success with Ostwestfalen. Because his name was initially not traded at all on the Mittelland Canal. Instead, there were consistent media reports about Wolfsburg’s interest in Tim Walter (recently extended with Holstein Kiel) and Alexander Blessin (future at FC St. Pauli still open).
Big squad change at VfL – Wimmer gone
Now Strobl has to moderate the big change in the squad in Wolfsburg. In addition to the returnee Elvis Rexhbecaj (FC Augsburg), Fraser Hornby (Darmstadt 98) has so far been confirmed as an external newcomer. On the other hand, the departures of Jonas Wind, Nicolas Cozza and Kevin Paredes were quickly reported.
On Wednesday evening there was another departure with Patrick Wimmer. The Austrian is moving to TSG Hoffenheim. The 25-year-old offensive man will receive “a long-term contract” there. According to consistent media reports, the transfer is based on an exit clause in Wimmer’s contract, which brings Wolfsburg more than ten million euros.
