Official: Wolfsburg announce appointment of Dieter Hecking as head coach

Following the announcement of Daniel Bauer’s departure earlier this morning, VfL Wolfsburg have moved quickly to appoint his successor as they look to reignite their fight for Bundesliga survival.

Reports from outlets such as Kicker and Sky Germany earlier suggested that an agreement had been reached between the club and Dieter Hecking. Those reports have now been officially confirmed, with Wolfsburg announcing the experienced coach’s return.

Hecking comes back to the club almost ten years after his first spell in charge of Die Wölfe, during which he led Wolfsburg to DFB-Pokal glory in 2015 during a successful three-year tenure. The newly appointed head coach spoke about his excitement at returning to familiar surroundings:

“Returning to VfL Wolfsburg means a lot to me. I experienced an intense and successful time here and know the quality and energy this club possesses. Now it’s important to fully focus on the upcoming tasks and join forces to stay in the Bundesliga.”

Sporting director Pirmin Schwegler expressed his confidence that Hecking is the right man to guide the club out of their current predicament:

“Dieter Hecking brings exactly the experience we need in the current situation. He knows the club, the environment, and the demands of the Bundesliga very well. We are convinced that with his composure, expertise, and clear vision, he will give the team the necessary stability to achieve our common goal of staying in the league,” 

Hecking’s first match back in charge will come this Saturday when Wolfsburg travel to Sinsheim to face third-placed Hoffenheim. Wolfsburg currently sit 17th in the Bundesliga on 20 points, three behind 15th-placed St. Pauli.