How Sebastian Hoeneß has got VfB Stuttgart attacking on all fronts
Embroiled in a four-way battle for a UEFA Champions League berth in the Bundesliga whilst remaining in the hunt for UEFA Europa League and DFB Cup glory, VfB Stuttgart continue to soar under the stewardship of head coach Sebastian Hoeneß. Here’s how the German tactician has enabled the Swabian club to compete on all three fronts…
Bundesliga runners-up in 2023/24 and DFB Cup winners last season, Stuttgart continue to make all the right noises in the current campaign. Sitting fourth in the Bundesliga standings, two points clear of RB Leipzig with 10 games to go, Hoeneß's are on course to land a third successive season of European football. There could be further silverware to come in the DFB Cup and Europa League, too.
The Swabian club's performances over the last 2-3 months have been particularly impressive, with only leaders Bayern Munich outpointing Hoeneß's charges domestically since their Matchday 14 triumph over Werder Bremen. And while Stuttgart (27) are behind Bayern (39) and second-placed Borussia Dortmund (28) for goals scored in that period, they have conceded a league-low 10 goals across those games - a run that has returned four clean sheets
Watch: Stuttgart start 2026 in style
Stuttgart’s steely defence is down to the formidable partnership of Jeff Chabot and Finn Jeltsch ahead of ever-present Bayern loanee Alexander Nübel between sticks. Only Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and RB Leipzig’s Péter Gulácsi have kept more clean sheets than Stuttgart’s custodian, who has nine, this term. “There’s a lot of hunger in the team to achieve further success together,” said Chabot.
In attack, Deniz Undav’s 50th goal for Stuttgart in the 4-0 win over Wolfsburg on Matchday 24 took his tally to eight goals and seven assists across all competitions in 2026 alone. Ermedin Demirović and Jamie Leweling have also bagged their fair share since the winter break, chipping in with a combined 12 goals and four assists to make the Swabians one of Europe’s most fearful attacks.
“I’m pleased I was able to score twice but the team’s success comes first,” said Leweling, who struck a brace against Wolfsburg. “We can go into the next week of training with a good feeling and we want to keep working with this energy in the coming days.”
Watch: Stuttgart overpower Wolfsburg
Linking Stuttgart’s solid defence with their free-flowing attack is midfield maestro Angelo Stiller, who anchors Hoeneß’s midfield alongside Atakan Karazor. The established duo largely go unnoticed, yet are so crucial in what VfB are trying to achieve.
Averaging 56 per cent possession and 85.6 per cent passing accuracy, bettered only by Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen in both metrics, Stuttgart prove difficult opponents, as proven on both domestic and international fronts.
In Europe, meanwhile, only Lyon, Aston Villa and Real Betis can boast a better passing accuracy than their Bundesliga counterparts, who have scored a Europa League-leading 19 goals is far this term, while only five teams have enjoyed more possession ahead of the knockout phase.
Wanting to assert themselves in games, a statement Europa League play-off victory over Celtic secured VfB a place in the last 16 of a European competition for the first time in 13 years.
“It’s great to be back in the last 16 of a European competition for the first time in 13 years,” lauded Fabian Wohlgemuth, VfB’s board member for sport, after Die Schwaben were drawn against Porto.
For Hoeneß, who has been instrumental in his team’s success since taking charge in April 2023, securing Bundesliga status before moulding the Swabian club into a German powerhouse once again, Stuttgart’s participation in the knockout stages is “a historic success.”
Having tasted defeat only three times in 2026, losing to Roma, St. Pauli and Celtic, Stuttgart find themselves attacking on all fronts. Possessing one of Europe’s most balanced squads with a beautiful mix of youth and experience to create a strong spine, each department is playing its part to ensure another successful campaign.
“We’ve made another leap forward when it comes to the details," explained Chabot. “We’re showing more resilience and are managing to swing tight games in our favour. Everyone can rely on each other and it’s a pleasure to fight for points together on the pitch.”
From back to front, it’s been a valiant team effort, particularly since the turn of the year. The DFB Cup holders are a semi-final win over Freiburg from returning to Berlin to face Bayern or Leverkusen in the final, while they have to be considered one of the favourties to go all the way in the Europa League.
More immediately, the Bundesliga’s second-best team across the last 11 matchdays will be eagerly anticipating their upcoming league meeting with lowly Mainz as they look to continue their remarkable upward trajectory under Hoeneß.
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