VfL Wolfsburg: Fabian Hürzeler and Urs Fischer possible Kovac successors?

Still backing in Wolfsburg

Coach Niko Kovac is pleased about the support of the supervisory board and management in the sporting crisis at VfL Wolfsburg. “It’s quite an appreciation. This came not only from Marcel Schäfer, but also from Mr. Witter. I do believe that as a coaching team we work well, intensively and very meticulously. That is also noticed,” said Kovac on Thursday before the next Bundesliga game at Darmstadt 98 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m./Sky). He wants to “give back” this trust.

Wolfsburg started this season as a European Cup candidate. After being eliminated from the DFB Cup, they have only won one of the last eight games in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, managing director Marcel Schäfer and supervisory board chairman Frank Witter spoke out in favor of further cooperation with Kovac, who had come under criticism, after the 0-1 defeat against SC Freiburg.

“I have absolute confidence in the words spoken,” said the VfL coach. “But I also know: This won’t last until the end of the season if we don’t present ourselves better in terms of points. Everyone understands that – and of course I understand that too.”

Since promotion to the Bundesliga: All Wolfsburg coaches with a record

Niko Kovac – 54 competitive games – 1.43 points per game

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In office since July 1, 2022 (as of December 14, 2023)

Florian Kohfeldt – 28 competitive games – 1.14 points per game

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Term of office: October 26, 2021 to May 15, 2022

Mark van Bommel – 13 competitive games – 1.15 points per game

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Term of office: July 1, 2021 to October 24, 2021

Oliver Glasner – 87 competitive games – 1.67 points per game

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Term of office: July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021

Bruno Labbadia – 50 competitive games – 1.52 points per game

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Term of office: February 20, 2018 to June 30, 2019

Martin Schmidt – 22 competitive games – 1.18 points per game

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Term of office: September 18, 2017 to February 19, 2018

Andries Jonker – 19 competitive games – 1.47 points per game

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Term of office: February 27, 2017 to September 18, 2017

Valérien Ismaël – 17 competitive games – 1.12 points per game

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Term of office: October 17, 2016 to November 5, 2016

Dieter Hecking – 165 competitive games – 1.75 points per game

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Term of office: January 1, 2013 to October 17, 2016

Lorenz-Günther Köstner – 11 competitive games – 1.82 points per game

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Interim coach from October 25, 2012 to December 31, 2012 (previously in 2010 with 21 games, 1.62 points on average)

Felix Magath – 52 competitive games – 1.23 points per game

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Second term: March 18, 2011 to October 25, 2012

Pierre Litbarski – 5 competitive games – 0.60 points per game

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Interim coach from February 7, 2011 to March 18, 2011

Steve McClaren – 24 competitive games – 1.21 points per game

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Term of office: July 1, 2010 to February 7, 2011

Armin Veh – 27 competitive games – 1.26 points per game

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Term of office: July 1, 2009 to January 25, 2010

Felix Magath – 85 competitive games – 1.86 points per game

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First of two terms from June 15, 2007 to June 30, 2009

Klaus Augenthaler – 56 competitive games – 1.16 points per game

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Term of office: December 29, 2005 to May 19, 2007

Holger Fach – 25 competitive games – 1.28 points per game

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Term of office: July 1, 2005 to December 19, 2005

Eric Gerets – 44 competitive games – 1.34 points per game

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Term of office: April 4, 2004 to May 28, 2005

Jürgen Röber – 48 competitive games – 1.42 points per game

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Term of office: March 4, 2003 to April 4, 2004

Wolfgang Wolf – 195 competitive games – 1.45 points per game

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Term of office: March 23, 1998 to March 4, 2003 (took over from promotion coach Willi Reimann on matchday 28 of Wolfsburg’s first Bundesliga season)

This is what reports “Hamburger Abendblatt“that Wolfsburg is dealing with Fabian Hürzeler from second division leaders FC St. Pauli. However, this is a standard form of contact in the industry and speculation is still rather dubious. St. Pauli would like to extend Hürzeler anyway and make him the highest paid coach in the club’s history, but an agreement is still pending an exit clause. It is also said that if Kovac were to leave, VfL would currently favor Urs Fischer as his successor. The 57-year-old left his place at the troubled 1. FC Union Berlin in November after more than five years.

Despite the weak results, Kovac still believes in a sporting turnaround. “It’s more of a result crisis than a game crisis,” said the 52-year-old. “I am convinced that it is only a matter of time, when will it happen? Then things will turn around again.” The team is “not a bunch that no longer achieves anything. On the contrary: the team is willing. This is a team that sacrifices itself every day in training.”

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It’s unbelievable what kind of rubbish Kovac said today (results crisis, etc.). I hope for his sake that he doesn’t believe that himself.
In the first few years under Schmadtke, I actually had the feeling that I could create something here that had real substance. The new structure under Labbadia 18/19, the clear further development including game idea under Glasner 2019-21. But then everything was torn down again. Completely inappropriate coaches (van Bommel, Kohfeldt) who do everything the players…

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