The former successful coach of the German U21 national team is said to be in discussion with a struggling Bundesliga club – in the event of a colleague being fired.
According to a media report, Stefan Kuntz is a candidate for the coaching position at VfL Wolfsburg in the event of Niko Kovac being kicked out. As the “Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung” reported, the former national soccer player and successful U21 coach is said to be ready to work as an emergency helper until the end of the season. The 61-year-old Kuntz had to vacate his position as Turkish national coach last fall.
Kovac is under pressure because of Wolfsburg’s recent negative series in the Bundesliga. As eleventh in the table, nine points behind a European Cup place, VfL is far behind its goals for the season. There has therefore recently been speculation that Kovac could lose his job in the event of a defeat in the next home game against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday. In addition to Kuntz, successor candidates such as Ralph Hasenhüttl and Steffen Baumgart are already being discussed.
Schäfer defends Kovac
However, sports director Marcel Schäfer defended Kovac’s work. “The situation now is not pleasant. However, I still believe that we can solve this together,” said Schäfer. Specifically referring to Kovac, the 39-year-old said: “Internal credibility is always crucial. And it is there.”
Schäfer vigorously contradicted reports that VfL had already announced the commitment of St. Pauli’s coach Fabian Hürzeler for the coming season during transfer negotiations: “Such reports have no basis, they are made out of thin air and disrespectful to our club, to the FC St. Pauli and all the protagonists,” said Schäfer, according to the “Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung”.