Wolfsburg sack Simonis, name Bauer interim coach

VfL Wolfsburg dismissed head coach Paul Simonis with immediate effect following a string of disappointing results in the Bundesliga, the club announced on Sunday.

The 40-year-old Dutchman departs less than four months after his appointment, with assistant coaches Peter van der Veen, Tristan Berghuis and Martin Darneviel also leaving. Under-19 coach Daniel Bauer, 43, will take charge of the first team on an interim basis.

Kilian Fischer (L) of VfL Wolfsburg vies for the ball with Michael Olise of Bayern Munich during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg in Munich, Germany, Jan. 18, 2025. (Photo by Philippe Ruiz/Xinhua)

"Parting ways with Paul Simonis was not an easy decision," said sporting director Peter Christiansen. "Paul is a meticulous and passionate coach whose ideas and professionalism we greatly valued. But in football, results and points are what count, and the recent development has not met our expectations. We all share responsibility for the current situation."

Simonis arrived last summer after leading Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles Deventer to a domestic cup triumph. He managed two wins from 10 Bundesliga matches, and Wolfsburg's DFB Cup campaign ended with a 1-0 defeat to second-tier Holstein Kiel in the second round. Successive league losses to Hoffenheim (2-3) and Werder Bremen (1-2) sealed his fate ahead of the international break.

Bauer returns to the role he briefly held at the end of last season, when he guided Wolfsburg to four points from the final two matches. He will be supported by U-19 assistant Julian Klamt and U-17 head coach Tobias Holm, alongside goalkeeping coach Pascal Formann, head of performance Christian Clarup, and transition coach Koen Stam.

"We're pleased Daniel Bauer is stepping in during this difficult phase," Christiansen said. "We know how he works and are confident he can lead the team in the right direction."

Wolfsburg hosts Bundesliga leader Bayer Leverkusen on Nov. 22 after the international break.