Dieter Hecking has returned to Wolfsburg as head coach, nearly a decade after leaving the club, in an attempt to steer them away from relegation. The decision comes after a 2-1 home defeat to Hamburg left Wolfsburg second-bottom of the Bundesliga, four points adrift of the relegation playoff place. The club also dismissed interim coach Daniel Bauer and managing director for sport Peter Christiansen following the match.
Hecking, 61, previously managed Wolfsburg from December 2012 to 2016, guiding them to a DFB-Pokal win in 2015 and European qualification. He inherits a squad with notable talent, including Lovro Majer, Mohamed Amoura, Maximilian Arnold, Jesper Lindstrøm, and Christian Eriksen, but the team has struggled for consistency and leadership. Saturday's loss highlighted these issues, with teenager Luka Vuskovic scoring twice from the penalty spot for Hamburg to overturn Eriksen's opener.
Wolfsburg's position is precarious, with results elsewhere worsening their plight. St Pauli, Mainz, and Werder Bremen all gained points, leaving Wolfsburg only one place above the bottom of the table. The club's fifth-highest budget in the Bundesliga has not translated into results, and Hecking faces a significant challenge to turn the season around.
