VfB Stuttgart has found a successor for Thomas Krücken, who moved to Manchester City. Stephan Hildebrandt will be the new head of the youth training center.
VfB Stuttgart has found a new NLZ manager. IMAGO/Sportfoto Pack
With the Berlin native, the Swabians have filled the leadership vacancy in their NLZ. According to CEO Alexander Wehrle, Hildebrandt, who most recently worked as a freelancer and consultant at Hamburger SV, should “continue our player-centered path in the NLZ as a licensed trainer. At the same time, together with Fabian Wohlgemuth, he should consistently promote the integration of top talent into the professional sector.”
Vice President Rainer Adrion also sees the new signing as the right man for VfB. “Stephan Hildebrandt convinced us in the discussions with his profile and his passion. He represents the close integration of basic and performance areas, which is very important to us.”
For the 50-year-old holder of the FIFA A coaching license, who worked as head of the HSV’s youth department between 2002 and 2010 and also gained experience in professional football as the sporting director of Energie Cottbus, Stuttgart “stands for a long tradition in “talent development”. The third-placed Bundesliga club is one of the most successful training locations in Germany. Many innovative approaches to youth work have come from Stuttgart in recent years. I am very confident that together we will be able to ensure that the entire club will continue to benefit from the work in the youth training center in the future allow”.
Crutches have come full circle
His predecessor left his mark. Thomas Krücken, who moved to the Neckar after five years at FSV Mainz 05, was in charge of the youth team at the traditional club for four years. Then the 46-year-old got the call from the Premier League, where he took over at the beginning of November. A journey back in time. In the 2000/2001 season, Krücken was already active in the youth ranks of the top English club. This was followed by stops at 1. FC Köln, Hertha BSC, Arminia Bielefeld, TSG Hoffenheim, Mainz and Stuttgart.
Now it was back to the island, where the Neuss native “has come full circle. The opportunity to lead one of the best academies in world football and build on the great work it has done over the last few years excites me very much and fills me with pride.” The father still remembers with joy the beginning of his career, “at Maine Road, the old Manchester City stadium, 22 years ago.”
2023-11-08 16:17:50
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