Sebastian Hoeneß
VfB Stuttgart, 2023-
Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has been doing an excellent job of carrying on the football heritage of his family name. As the son of former Bayern Munich and Germany striker Dieter – and nephew of World Cup winner Uli – he had a lot to live up to as far as German football is concerned. The younger Hoeneß, however, has carved a reputation for himself in the Bundesliga as a highly rated coach.
Born in 1982 – the year his dad was part of the Bayern side beaten by Aston Villa in the European Cup final – Hoeneß’s playing career did not reach the heights he might have hoped for. Instead, it peaked with several seasons in Hertha Berlin’s reserves, before he called time on his playing days in 2010.
His coaching career has been far more successful. In 2020 he coached Bayern Munich II to become the first reserve team in history to win Germany’s third division. He then led Hoffenheim to respectable 11th and ninth-place finishes in the Bundesliga, before moving to Stuttgart in April 2023. There, he took over a team that was bottom of the top division and saved them from relegation.
He followed that by leading Stuttgart to a runners-up position in the 2023/24 Bundesliga, and Champions League qualification for the first time since 2009. Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed the tactical approach that has brought him success at Hoffenheim and Stuttgart…
Changing shape
Across his senior coaching career, Sebastian Hoeneß has often utilised formations that feature a three-player midfield. Most notably this has been the 4-2-3-1 shape, which he has used extensively at Hoffenheim and Stuttgart. He also used a 3-5-2 at Hoffenheim, while at Stuttgart he has evolved to using a 4-4-2.
His 4-2-3-1 at Hoffenheim often featured Andrej Kramaric and Ihlas Bebou as a nine and 10 in the attack. They were supported by inside movements from wide players including Robert Skov, Christoph Baumgartner and Jacob Bruun Larsen. These three operated as wrong-footed attackers looking to move inside, with or without the ball. This in turn allowed for overlapping runs from the full-backs. The double pivot – comprising two of Diadie Samassékou, Florian Grillitsch and Angelo Stiller – supported from underneath, working the ball into the narrow attacking unit or advancing wide players.
Hoffenheim’s attacking 3-5-2 had the full-backs converted into wing-backs, and a three-player central midfield supporting underneath Kramaric and Bebou, who both operated as genuine number nines. Hoeneß’s side could flip quickly from a 4-2-3-1 to 3-5-2, with both full-backs high and the two wide players moving inside to become the three-player midfield, either side of a pivot. The other pivot would then drop into the back line to form a converted trio, with Kramaric moving higher to support around Bebou (below).
At Stuttgart, with Serhou Guirassy leading the line in 2023/24, the 4-2-3-1 initially operated similarly to at Hoffenheim. Supporting underneath or alongside was Deniz Undav, who had the ability to play as a nine or 10. As such, Stuttgart were able to fluidly change shape just like Hoffenheim, except this time between a 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2.
Stuttgart also operated with number 10s who preferred to stay between the lines for longer – Enzo Millot and the versatile Woo-yeong Jeong. They had more emphasis on central play between the lines in Hoeneß’s first season; in his second, wide-area combinations and movements became more apparent.
Wide attacks
In three of his four full seasons in charge, Hoeneß’s teams have registered at least the third-most crosses in the Bundesliga. At Hoffenheim, the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Pavel Kaderábek and David Raum provided a stream of deliveries from wide, operating as advancing full-backs in a back four, or as wing-backs in a 3-5-2. Complementing the inward movements from those ahead – and key to Hoffenheim’s overall play – Raum in particular was influential from the wide areas. He delivered 36 per cent of Hoffenheim’s crosses in the 2021/22 season, when they ranked second for most crosses in the Bundesliga.
With Kramaric and Bebou as the two centre-forward targets, plus runs from deep from the likes of Skov, Baumgartner and Bruun Larsen, Hoffenheim had plenty of targets to aim for. Kramaric and Bebou also delivered crosses themselves, making wider runs to draw out their central opponents. In turn, the central spaces were filled by late runs from midfield – or the opposite wide player coming across to attack the far post – in areas vacated by drawing out opposing pivots or centre-backs (below).
At Stuttgart, it took until the 2024/25 season for Hoeneß’s side to begin mirroring the regular wide attacks seen at Hoffenheim. After 23 games of that season they ranked second for crosses (439). As with Hoffenheim’s full-backs, Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstädt and Josha Vagnoman have provided regular deliveries, getting forward from deep to cross for the two nines, or nine and 10 (below). With Stuttgart using more permanent wide players in a 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2, the back-post spaces have also been a target from crosses.
Wide midfielders Jamie Leweling and Chris Führich have also supplied balls into the box from wide. Unlike at Hoffenheim – where wrong-footed wide players came inside to support central play – Hoeneß has deployed wide midfielders who prefer to attack around the outside. This has provided an additional threat into the box from the opposite side, while the secondary player – the full-back – has been available to collect any overhit crosses, provide cover and support in a way that a single wing-back cannot.
Thanks to these wide pairings at Stuttgart, there has also been more licence for the forwards to drop into midfield to hold, link, connect or stretch in behind. This has helped to increase crossing deliveries in Hoeneß’s second season, with the tactic of pulling out opponents first, to then exploit the spaces, while not reducing their increasingly threatening central attacks.
It is an idea Hoeneß brought with him from his time at Hoffenheim, albeit using a different attacking structure at Stuttgart. Nick Woltemade in particular has benefited, as he is used in a similar manner to Kramaric. He can play in the number 10 spaces and as a second number nine, allowing Hoeneß’s side to seamlessly change attacking shapes.
Central defending
Hoeneß has pushed for more counter-pressing moments at Stuttgart. In his first two seasons at the club, they have been among the Bundesliga’s top three for duels, tackles and interceptions per minute of opposition possession. In 2024/25, Stuttgart have committed to pressing high up the pitch, whereas Hoffenheim were much more varied under Hoeneß. Sometimes they pressed high, and at other times they withdrew into a block.
Stuttgart’s high pressing has often focused on jumping centrally up the pitch, often in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. The first line has screened central passes and pressed forward, often joined by narrowed wingers. Should the first line be played around, back-pressing supports defending of the central spaces. The central midfield then squeezes the space around the opposing ball-carrier (below).
Another strategy has seen one of the centre-backs advance into midfield, defending in a half-and-half position. There, they have positioned side-on, ready to jump into midfield or recover back for any direct balls in behind. This strategy has been mostly used when the opposition builds with shorter passes, and haven’t often used longer passes. It can also be used when the nine and 10, or pair of nines, flatten and press.
In a 4-2-3-1, the nine has more often locked play one way, allowing the number 10 to drop deeper and join the double pivots, often player-oriented in their marking in midfield. This means the back line can remain intact, no longer requiring the centre-back to advance. It is a strategy Hoeneß also used at Hoffenheim, albeit deeper, and can also be used when teams play more directly, looking to target spaces in behind for forward runners.
Hoeneß’s Hoffenheim tended to defend deeper, while still being focused on protecting the central spaces. As well as the 4-2-3-1, he worked with a 3-5-2 that naturally converted into a back line of five (below).
Here, the wing-backs jumped out aggressively, with the closest number nine also working back to recover into central midfield. The closest midfielder could then work across and protect in behind, ensuring that the wide centre-backs weren’t pulled too far away from the centre. The middle had as much protection and defensive support as possible, even when the wing-backs began to engage high.
Hoeneß’s tactics have been relatively successful at Hoffenheim and Stuttgart, attracting plaudits and speculation that he could be headhunted by wealthier Bundesliga or Premier League clubs. In his time as a head coach so far, there is no doubt he has made a name for himself.
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