Will VfB Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeneß, Angelo Stiller, Alexander Nübel haunt Bayern Munich in DFB Cup final?
VfB Stuttgart will aim to become the 10th team to triumphantly defend the DFB Cup when they face Bayern Munich in this year’s final at the Olympiastadion. While much of their success is primarily a team effort, a trio of key group members with a Bayern past have played particularly important roles…
Stuttgart’s recent history can be split into two parts: before Sebastian Hoeneß’s appointment as head coach, and after his arrival. Since winning the Bundesliga title in 2006/07, the Swabians spent much of the following 16 years in the lower half of the top flight, even playing two seasons in Bundesliga 2.
They were in danger of returning to the second tier once more following their 3-0 loss to Union Berlin on Matchday 26 of the 2022/23 campaign, a result which left them bottom of the table and two points adrift of the relegation play-off spot. At that stage, Hoeneß’s sole senior job had been a two-year stint at Hoffenheim, yet he was still given a chance to prove himself at the MHPArena.
That decision has paid off, and then some. Stuttgart lost just one of their final eight games of the regular season to secure a second chance via the play-off, and subsequently beat Hamburg 6-1 over two legs.
Ultimately, that was just the start of Stuttgart’s remarkable rise. The following season, they finished second behind Bayer Leverkusen, their highest finish since that aforementioned title, and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 14 years. Then, in 2024/25, Hoeneß masterminded the club’s first DFB Cup triumph since 1997, before securing another season of Champions League football this time around.
He will aim to add more silverware to the Baden-Württemberg outfit’s trophy cabinet against a club with which he has a strong connection. The Hoeneß name has long been associated with the Bavarians; Sebastian’s father Dieter made over 250 appearances for Bayern between 1979 and 1987, winning five league titles, while uncle Uli was part of the iconic side that won three consecutive European Cups in the 1970s during his nine-year playing stint in Munich.
Immediately after retiring, the latter was appointed Bayern’s general manager and served for 30 years before becoming president. It was under his watch that his nephew joined the youth academy as U19 coach in 2017 before taking charge of Bayern's reserves in 2019.
Not only did Sebastian share his elders’ surname, but seemingly also their taste for success. He ultimately led the second team to their maiden 3. Liga title, also winning the third tier’s Coach of the Season award. He only spent a single year in the position before moving on to Hoffenheim, but that early experience of winning has proven vital.
“Playing against Bayern is always something special for me,” he explained in December 2023 ahead of Stuttgart’s trip to the Allianz Arena. “They [Bayern and Stuttgart] are definitely the two clubs I feel the strongest emotional connection to. I've been in the stands a few times as a Bayern supporter, primarily due to family ties, of course.”
During his time at Stuttgart, Hoeneß has relied, in part, on two former Bayern players. One of them, Alexander Nübel, is still a Bayern player, with this his third season on loan from the record German champions.
After joining Bayern from Schalke in 2020, Nübel was once tipped as Manuel Neuer’s successor, but a lack of playing time forced him to search elsewhere for on-field action. In 2023, that led him to Stuttgart, where he has been a key member of the side’s rearguard.
In both 2024/25 and 2025/26, he played every Bundesliga minute, and was also between the sticks as Stuttgart won in Berlin last May. Now one of the more experienced players in the squad at the age of 29, Nübel will look to get one over his current employers in what could be his final Stuttgart game, given his loan deal is set to expire in the summer.
The signing of Jonas Urbig by Bayern, his subsequent impressive displays and now Neuer's recent contract extension will likely make it hard for Nübel to force his way into plans back in Munich. However, even though he has previously stated his desire to establish himself in Munich, he revealed he is open to other paths.
“We'll see if Bayern and I come together. Or if we decide to do something else. I'm not tied to any one club,” he explained in January 2025. In regards to Stuttgart, he added, “It's simply amazing to play here. I think the whole region, not just Stuttgart itself, but Baden-Württemberg, lives for the club, and that's really great."
Whether he remains at Stuttgart beyond this term remains to be seen. Sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth recently said, “Of course, we will try to continue working with him beyond the summer. We are working on this topic, but of course, there are several parties involved in the negotiations.”
Should he depart, winning the cup once more would be the perfect way to say goodbye. If they do prevail, they will need Angelo Stiller at his best. Over the past three seasons, the 25-year-old has developed into one of the finest midfielders in the Bundesliga, helping to dictate the tempo for Hoeneß in the engine room.
In each of his three seasons at Stuttgart, he has been amongst the top 20 in the division in terms of percentage of completed passes, and his consistent form has made him a strong contender for Julian Nagelsmann’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Germany squad.
Stuttgart, though, have Bayern to thank for his development. Munich-native Stiller was just nine years old when he joined the local juggernaut in 2010 and ultimately made his professional debut with the second-string in 2019 under no other than Hoeneß, his current Stuttgart boss.
He went on to make 50 appearances for the reserves across two seasons and featured three times for the first team. However, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka blocking his way into the first team, Stiller switched to Hoffenheim in 2021, reuniting with Hoeneß before linking up with the latter once more at Stuttgart.
Although his journey has taken him away from his home region, Stiller clearly still has an affection for Bayern. Early this year, he said, “Bayern is always something special for me. I played there for 11 years. My family and friends still live there, so I visit often”.
Nevertheless, he, just like Hoeneß and Nübel, will line up against the Munich outfit hoping to emerge victorious. There would be no better way to show them what they’re missing out on.
