Next defeat
Coach Niko Kovac is not up for discussion at VfL Wolfsburg even after the 0-1 defeat against SC Freiburg. Sports director Marcel Schäfer renewed his commitment to the 52-year-old coach on Saturday after the game. “I stand by my statement,” said the former VfL professional. “We are going through a brutally difficult phase. I don’t want to talk about her being more beautiful than she is. But I feel like we can do this together.”
The Wolfsburg team have only won one of the last eight games in the Bundesliga and, as eleventh in the table, are already seven points behind their targeted European Cup places. VfL was also eliminated from the DFB Cup on Tuesday with a 0-1 defeat after extra time at Borussia Mönchengladbach. After 14 match days, the “Wolves” are in eleventh place with the fifth most valuable squad in the Bundesliga – 255 million euros. At the same time in 2022/23, VfL had 20 points, four more. At the end of the season the club reached eighth place. Just like this year, the DFB Cup ended in the round of 16, against Union Berlin.
Kovac himself was once again combative after the unfortunate defeat against Freiburg. “Let’s move on, keep your head up!” said the former Bayern coach. “Those who know me well know how close I feel about something like this. But those who know me also know: My last name is Farrier. I can work – and that’s what we will do. Bad luck is on our side at the moment. But you have to look forward. The team gave everything and invested everything today.”
Kovac, who has been criticized by some Wolfsburg fans, has been in office since July 2022. In 53 competitive games he has an average points average of 1.45, which is higher than that of his predecessors Florian Kohfeldt (1.14) and Mark van Bommel (1.15). Between 2019 and 2021, Oliver Glasner performed better than Kovac at VfL with 1.67 PPS, just like Bruno Labbadia, who was on the sidelines in front of Glasner (1.52).
Since promotion to the Bundesliga: All Wolfsburg coaches with a record
Niko Kovac – 53 competitive games – 1.45 points per game
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In office since July 1st, 2022 (as of December 6th, 2024)
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)
Before the Freiburg game, the Croatian said: “It’s difficult mentally at the moment because we don’t have any success. But I am convinced that things will definitely change. I stick with it: This team, these players have enough quality to go in a different direction. You need the necessary factor of luck.” Against the Breisgau team, the “Wolves” were dominant, as they were against Gladbach, but were unable to convert the chances into goals.
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