VfB appoints Wohlgemuth: A rational choice with a well-prepared process

German national league - VfB appoints Wohlgemuth: A rational choice with a well-prepared process

Finally, VfB Stuttgart's hunt for a new sporting director ends within their own team, with the most obvious candidate being promoted. Fabian Wohlgemuth will be upgraded from sporting director to sports manager by the board. This wasn't much of a shock, as the supervisory board's decision had already hinted at it, and their announcement on Wednesday didn't come as a surprise. With clarity around the Bundesliga club, there might be some relief.

In the coming summer, Wohlgemuth will be at the heart of the club's personnel adjustments.

The decision about who will replace Wohlgemuth as sporting director is expected to be made soon. The former Stuttgart captain and midfielder Christian Gentner, who has been working closely with Wohlgemuth as head of the professional player department, seems like a strong candidate.

The fate of several star players such as Serhou Guirassy, Waldemar Anton, and Chris Führich remains undecided. All three players have clauses in their contracts that allow them to leave. Undav's future, who is currently preparing for the European Championships with Anton and Führich, is also uncertain.

So far, Wohlgemuth has been busy with transfers since Stuttgart's remarkable season. They signed promising talents like Nick Woltemade from Bremen or Yannik Keitel from Freiburg, as well as Jamie Leweling and Leonidas Stergiou, who were both promoted to the first team. From Cologne, they signed the experienced Jeff Chabot. If VfB wants to handle the extra responsibility of promotion, more needs to be done.

"In the last few months, he not only considers short-term but also medium- and long-term plans, and is successful in doing so," said board chairman Alexander Wehrle about Wohlgemuth. Wohlgemuth's expertise is the only hope for the VfB, which aims to avoid any further sporting decline.

Wohlgemuth took over from Sven Mislintat in December 2022. After the near relegation and the drastic rescue in the relegation playoff in 2023, the previous season defied expectations with a vice-championship. Wohlgemuth, along with coach Sebastian Hoeneß, who he himself brought in, is one of the reasons for Stuttgart's comeback.

The lengthy selection process explained

It was shocking how much time the Swabians spent selecting the new sports manager. Wehrle had been in charge of the position so far, but after his analysis of the 2022/2023 season, he stated he wanted to leave the position. Several names were discussed beforehand. In the end, it was Wohlgemuth, whom Wehrle had suggested multiple times, who will now lead the youth and women's football department in addition to his new role.

"In terms of the process, I can say that perhaps 'carefulness comes before speed' was overused, but it still holds true," said Supervisory Board Chairwoman Göner. She was happy that the correct decision had been made. Wohlgemuth can now fully focus on personnel planning again.

Read also:

1. The board's decision to promote Fabian Wohlgemuth to sports manager was anticipated after Tanja Gönner, the Supervisory Board Chairwoman, hinted at it.
2. Christian Gentner, the former Stuttgart captain and midfielder, is seen as a strong contender to replace Wohlgemuth as sporting director.
3. In Swabia, where VfB Stuttgart is based, Waldemar Anton, Serhou Guirassy, and Chris Führich are all players with clauses in their contracts allowing them to leave the club.
4. Fabian Wohlgemuth has been instrumental in Stuttgart's strategic transfers, bringing in players such as Nick Woltemade and Yannik Keitel, as well as promoting Jamie Leweling and Leonidas Stergiou.
5. The future of these star players, as well as Undav, who is preparing for the European Championships, remains uncertain.
6. After taking over from Sven Mislintat in December 2022, Wohlgemuth, along with coach Sebastian Hoeneß, has contributed to Stuttgart's remarkable comeback, defying expectations with a vice-championship.
7. Alexander Wehrle, the board chairman, praised Wohlgemuth's foresight, stating that his expertise is the only hope for VfB to avoid further sporting decline.

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