There are so many people on the way to its home premiere. He turns boring press events into nice chats. “You can become addicted to the feeling of victory. You don’t get that in the garden,” admits Ralph Hasenhüttl. At the age of 56, he decided that he would rather celebrate in large football stadiums again instead of on his home turf.
In order to make the arrival of the new head coach at VfL Wolfsburg easier, the 2-0 win at Werder Bremen this Sunday (5.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on DAZN) should be followed by a home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach if possible. Hasenhüttl appears very relaxed in advance. He always has a charming answer to every question, no matter how intimate. The difference to his unsuccessful predecessor Niko Kovac is striking.
The first tricky topic that Hasenhüttl was allowed to deal with in Wolfsburg was quickly found. Making your own son your own assistant coach from one day to the next sounds, when viewed maliciously, like cronyism and family infiltration. On the other hand, a family coaching team, which Kovac formed with his brother Robert, can offer special opportunities.
“Never took the easy route”
Until a few days ago, Patrick Hasenhüttl was still a player for the third division club Hallescher FC. Suddenly ending your career as a player to become your father’s assistant coach without any experience in this role makes you sit up and take notice. “I know that this could be viewed critically from outside. But I am very happy about this decision,” says father Hasenhüttl about his 26-year-old son’s move to VfL.
An interesting interaction can be expected on the sidelines: Patrick Hasenhüttl, who will be connected via a headset to the VfL game analyst in the spectator stand, announces the need to speak downstairs in the interior of the stadium. In Bremen you could see the junior talking intensively to the senior. Ralph Hasenhüttl looked intently at the pitch while his son enthusiastically presented his perspective.
“I have to let it sink in first,” says Ralph Hasenhüttl about the power of the family input. He is very happy with the new constellation. With Craig Fleming, who was already one of Hasenhüttl’s assistants in the Premier League at FC Southampton, another close confidant is part of the new coaching team at VfL Wolfsburg. Do you make yourself vulnerable with such personal details? “I never took the easy path,” says Ralph Hasenhüttl about himself and his decisions.
How long the Hasenhüttl family has been committed to VfL is not communicated, not even by the club. This also applies to midfielder Yannick Gerhardt, who has just decided to stay with Lower Saxony for a longer period of time. The separation from Kovac and the decision for Hasenhüttl provides fresh impetus after a mediocre season in Wolfsburg. “We should show our fans what we want. We have a debt to pay,” says head coach Hasenhüttl.
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Uhrich, Cologne Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1 Published/Updated: Christian Otto, Wolfsburg Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2
What he and the club plan to do in the long term remains unclear. According to captain Maximilian Arnold, the team’s new leader comes with “a clear plan.” Hasenhüttl sees a lot of quality and potential in the VfL squad. Hasenhüttl answers in a friendly but firm manner whether both are enough to be considered for a place in European football again: “We have to turn a lot of wheels.”
