New man for mission advancement
As of: June 4, 2026 8:32 p.m
Tobias Strobl is supposed to make a new beginning for the Bundesliga relegated VfL Wolfsburg and manage their return to the first division. The 38-year-old is a talented trainer, but he rejects comparisons with the greats in his field.
Are we national coach Julian Nagelsmann or coach icon Jürgen Klopp? “The first impulse is: cool. But the second impulse, the reality, is: no. I’m miles away from that. I want to be my best version,” said Strobl when he was introduced as the new VfL coach. The previous coach of the third division soccer team SC Verl succeeds Dieter Hecking at the VW club, who is now the sports director at VfL and therefore Strobl’s superior.
Training starts on June 24th
Strobl wants to use his predecessor’s knowledge in the future. “I see this as a huge opportunity to have such a man at my side,” said the new VfL coach, who is asking his team to officially start training on June 24th. Performance tests are scheduled for June 22nd.
“After possession of the ball, it’s important to be active quickly”
Constantly knocking on Hecking’s door and asking for advice is not his thing. Strobl has very clear ideas about how he wants to form a team and how he wants football to be played: “For me, a good team is characterized by how they treat each other. When things go well, when things don’t go well. If the culture in the team is right, then the sporting aspect also comes,” said the 38-year-old. “I pursue a proactive approach that relies heavily on possession of the ball, effective possession of the ball. After possession of the ball, it’s important to be active quickly.”
“The people here are up for something new, I sense a spirit of optimism.”
VfL coach Tobias Strobl
Hecking: “Know that we are the favorites”
Hecking was convinced of his successor. “He knows what he’s talking about and what he wants – that’s exactly what we need now,” explained the 61-year-old. With a view to the coming season, Hecking emphasized that they want to be successful in the end: “We know that we are the favorites,” but for him the main thing is that “we have to get going first.” Sports director Pirmin Schwegler also warned: “The league is not easy” and there would be some “stumbling blocks” waiting for Wolfsburg.
Video:
Hecking to Strobl: “He knows what he wants and how he wants to play” (4 min)
Difficult task in Wolfsburg
In Wolfsburg, Strobl faces the difficult task of rebuilding VfL after relegation. To achieve this, the squad needs to be massively restructured. “We have clarity about what we want. And we have clarity about what we need. And now the players also have to have a personality and fit with VfL,” said Strobl about the coming weeks on the transfer market.
“Do you know the three monkeys? See nothing, hear nothing, say nothing.”
Dieter Hecking on the rumors about Robert Glatzel
Hecking counters Glatzel rumors
Those responsible for VfL did not want to comment on specific names. Hecking commented on Wolfsburg’s rumored interest in HSV striker Robert Glatzel in his usual humorous way to a journalist: “Do you know the three monkeys? See nothing, hear nothing, say nothing.
Video:
VfL Wolfsburg introduces new coach Tobias Strobl (1 min)
