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Paul Simonis’ departure from VfL Wolfsburg has been officially confirmed. The Bundesliga club announced on Sunday evening that Daniel Bauer, head coach of the Wolfsburg U19 team, will take over the coaching duties temporarily. Bauer has previous experience as an interim coach, having led the senior team in the last two league matches of the previous season after Ralph Hasenhüttl was let go.
Peter Christiansen, the managing director of Wolfsburg – who hinted at potentially leaving the club himself after this weekend – issued the official statement regarding Simonis’ dismissal. Among those mentioned as possible successors for the Wolfsburg coaching position are Urs Fischer, Tim Walter, and former VfL coach Bruno Labbadia, who enjoyed prior success at the club.
In his statement, Christiansen did not shy away from acknowledging the collective responsibility of himself and sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz. The 50-year-old Danish manager indicated that they would take their time in finding a suitable replacement, as another failed appointment could jeopardize their positions in the club.
“The decision to part ways with Paul Simonis was not an easy one for us,” Christiansen remarked in his statement. “We truly valued his efforts, his ideas, and his relationship with the team. This decision is personally difficult for me. We all share responsibility for the current situation: the sporting management, coaching staff, players, and the whole club.”
“We are pleased that Daniel Bauer is stepping in during this challenging period,” Christiansen continued. “We understand his working style and are confident that he, in collaboration with the team, can guide us towards positive progress.”