VfL Wolfsburg
A Volkswagen-owned German sports club best known for its professional football teams in Wolfsburg.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
VfL Wolfsburg is a German sports club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony. Although the association includes badminton, handball and athletics, its public identity is dominated by football. The men's professional football operation is managed through VfL Wolfsburg-Fußball GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, reflecting the club's origins as a works-supported team connected to the Volkswagen factory and the city built around it. The club traditionally plays in green and white and has used the Volkswagen Arena as its principal home since 2002. The modern club was established on 12 September 1945 as VSK Wolfsburg in the aftermath of the Second World War. After a severe player departure in December of that year, Josef Meyer and Willi Hilbert rebuilt the team, which subsequently adopted the name VfL Wolfsburg. The club progressed through the regional German football structure during the postwar decades. It reached the Oberliga Nord in 1954, moved between the second and third tiers for much of the following period, and eventually returned to the 2. Bundesliga after successive Oberliga Nord titles in 1991 and 1992. A second-place finish in the 2. Bundesliga in 1997 secured promotion to the Bundesliga. Wolfsburg initially established itself as a mid-table Bundesliga club. Its sixth-place finish in 1998–99 brought qualification for the UEFA Cup, while the team also appeared several times in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The decisive transformation came after Felix Magath was appointed ahead of the 2007–08 season. Wolfsburg finished fifth in his first campaign and then won the 2008–09 Bundesliga, the first top-flight title in club history. The championship side was powered by the prolific partnership of Grafite and Edin Džeko, supported by Zvjezdan Misimović's creative output. The title also gave Wolfsburg its first entry into the UEFA Champions League. The club added a major cup success in 2015. Under Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg finished second in the Bundesliga, won the DFB-Pokal for the first time by defeating Borussia Dortmund in the final, and then claimed the DFL-Supercup against Bayern Munich. The following Champions League campaign produced the club's best European run, ending in the quarter-finals against Real Madrid. Wolfsburg had won the first leg but were eliminated after the return match in Madrid. After that peak, the men's team experienced repeated managerial changes and several relegation battles. It preserved its Bundesliga status through play-offs in 2017 and 2018, then recovered sufficiently to finish sixth in 2018–19 and fourth in 2020–21. The latter result returned the club to the Champions League, although the team finished bottom of its group. Wolfsburg's women's section has been even more successful internationally, winning the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and UEFA Women's Champions League treble in 2012–13 and retaining the European title in 2014. The club therefore combines a Volkswagen-backed professional football business with a broader sporting association and a highly decorated women's football operation.
History
VfL Wolfsburg developed from the sporting culture surrounding the Volkswagen factory and the city of Wolfsburg. A factory works team, BSG Volkswagenwerk Stadt des KdF-Wagen, competed regionally during the final years of the Second World War. On 12 September 1945, shortly after the war, a new local club was created under the name VSK Wolfsburg. Its early survival was precarious: in December 1945 nearly the entire playing group departed for another newly formed club. Josef Meyer and Willi Hilbert rebuilt the side, which adopted the name VfL Wolfsburg; VfL is an abbreviation of Verein für Leibesübungen, meaning a club for physical exercise. The club's green-and-white identity dates from this formative period. Wolfsburg won local and regional competitions during the first postwar years and reached the Oberliga Nord in 1954 after defeating Heider SV in a promotion match. Its first spell at that level ended with relegation in 1959. When the Bundesliga was created in 1963, Wolfsburg was competing in the Regionalliga Nord, the second level. The club remained primarily a second-division team for the next dozen years, with a second-place finish in 1970 providing a chance to enter the Bundesliga promotion round. That attempt failed, and Wolfsburg later spent much of the period from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s in the third tier. Back-to-back Oberliga Nord titles in 1991 and 1992, followed by successful promotion play-offs, returned Wolfsburg to the 2. Bundesliga. A second-place finish in 1997 secured promotion to the Bundesliga. The club then consolidated itself in the top division, reaching sixth place in 1998–99 and qualifying for the UEFA Cup. It also made repeated appearances in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, reaching the competition's final in 2003 before losing to Perugia. Results became less consistent in the middle of the 2000s, with two 15th-place Bundesliga finishes in 2005–06 and 2006–07. Felix Magath's appointment before the 2007–08 season marked a turning point. Wolfsburg finished fifth in his first season, then won the 2008–09 Bundesliga. The title was secured on the final day with a 5–1 win against Werder Bremen. Grafite and Edin Džeko both exceeded 20 league goals, while Zvjezdan Misimović supplied 20 assists. Wolfsburg's first Champions League campaign ended in the group stage, but the club continued into the Europa League and reached the quarter-finals in 2010. The following years brought coaching turnover and uneven league performance. Steve McClaren became the first English manager in Bundesliga history in 2010, but was dismissed in February 2011; Pierre Littbarski briefly succeeded him before Magath returned in a combined coaching and sporting role. Magath departed in 2012, and Dieter Hecking took charge later that year. Under Hecking, Wolfsburg finished second in the Bundesliga in 2014–15, won the DFB-Pokal against Borussia Dortmund, and defeated Bayern Munich in the Super Cup. The team reached the 2015–16 Champions League quarter-finals, where Real Madrid overturned Wolfsburg's first-leg advantage. From 2016 onward, Wolfsburg repeatedly faced relegation pressure. It survived a 2017 play-off against Eintracht Braunschweig and a 2018 play-off against Holstein Kiel. The appointment of Jörg Schmadtke as managing director for sport and Marcel Schäfer as sporting director preceded a period of rebuilding. Wolfsburg finished sixth in 2018–19 and qualified for the Europa League, then placed fourth in 2020–21 to return to the Champions League. Oliver Glasner left after that campaign following disagreements with club management. Mark van Bommel was dismissed early in 2021–22 after poor results and a DFB-Pokal exit caused by a substitution error; Florian Kohfeldt completed the season, which ended with a 12th-place finish and a bottom-place Champions League group-stage result. Niko Kovač became head coach in 2022 and left in 2024, after which Ralph Hasenhüttl took over. The club's women's team has achieved an exceptional record, including a 2012–13 domestic and European treble and a second consecutive Champions League title in 2014.
- 2016
First Champions League quarter-final
[1]The men's team reaches the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.
- 2015
Domestic cup double
[1]Wolfsburg wins the DFB-Pokal and then the DFL-Supercup, defeating Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively.
- 2009
First Bundesliga championship
[1]Wolfsburg wins the 2008–09 Bundesliga, the first top-flight title in club history.
- 2002
Volkswagen Arena becomes the home stadium
[1]Wolfsburg begins playing home matches at the newly established Volkswagen Arena.
- 1997
Promotion to the Bundesliga
[1]A second-place 2. Bundesliga finish earns Wolfsburg promotion to Germany's top division.
- 1992
Return to the 2. Bundesliga
[1]Consecutive Oberliga Nord titles and successful promotion play-offs move Wolfsburg back to the second tier.
- 1954
Promotion to the Oberliga Nord
[1]Wolfsburg reaches the regional top flight after a 2–1 promotion victory over Heider SV.
- 1945
VSK Wolfsburg is founded
[1]A new football club is formed in Wolfsburg on 12 September after the Second World War.
- 1945
The club adopts the VfL Wolfsburg name
[1]Following a player exodus, Josef Meyer and Willi Hilbert rebuild the team, which takes the name VfL Wolfsburg.
Products and positioning
A Volkswagen-backed professional football institution combining corporate resources, regional identity, elite men's and women's teams, and youth development.
Professional football · 1945
Men's first team
The club's principal commercial and sporting product is its men's professional football team, which competes in Germany's national league and cup system. It plays home matches at the 30,000-capacity Volkswagen Arena and has won the Bundesliga once, the DFB-Pokal once and the DFL-Supercup once.
Professional football
Women's first team
VfL Wolfsburg's women's team is one of the most successful sides in European women's football. It has won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal and has claimed the UEFA Women's Champions League, including a domestic-European treble in 2012–13 and a second Champions League title in 2014.
Player development
Youth academy
The academy develops male youth players through regional and national competitions. Its achievements include German Under-19 championships and multiple Bundesliga North/Northeast youth titles, making youth development an important part of the club's sporting model.
Stadium and matchday experience · 2002
Volkswagen Arena
The Volkswagen Arena is Wolfsburg's main football stadium and has hosted the club's home matches since 2002. It holds approximately 30,000 spectators and is closely associated with the club's Volkswagen ownership and its modern Bundesliga era.
Brand decisions
2018
Sporting-structure rebuildStrategyBackground
Following consecutive relegation battles, Wolfsburg sought greater continuity in sporting management.
Action taken
Jörg Schmadtke became managing director for sport and Marcel Schäfer became sporting director.
Aftermath
The club finished sixth in 2018–19 and fourth in 2020–21, returning to European and Champions League competition.
2012
Dieter Hecking takes chargeOtherBackground
The club had endured poor results and managerial instability following Magath's departure.
Action taken
Dieter Hecking was appointed head coach in December 2012.
Aftermath
Wolfsburg later finished second in the Bundesliga and won the DFB-Pokal in the 2014–15 season.
2007
Appointment of Felix MagathStrategyBackground
Wolfsburg had generally operated as a mid-table Bundesliga team and sought a stronger sporting direction.
Action taken
The club appointed Felix Magath as head coach ahead of the 2007–08 season; he also assumed sporting responsibilities.
Aftermath
Wolfsburg finished fifth in 2007–08 and won its first Bundesliga title in 2008–09.
Recent events
- 2016
Wolfsburg reaches the Champions League quarter-finals[1]
Other
The team reached the last eight of the UEFA Champions League for the first time, ultimately losing to Real Madrid after holding a two-goal first-leg advantage.
- 2015
Wolfsburg wins its first DFB-Pokal[1]
Other
The club defeated Borussia Dortmund 3–1 in the final to win the German Cup for the first time.
- 2015
Wolfsburg wins the DFL-Supercup[1]
Other
Wolfsburg defeated Bayern Munich on penalties to claim its first German Super Cup.
- 2009
VfL Wolfsburg wins its first Bundesliga title[1]
Other
Wolfsburg sealed the 2008–09 Bundesliga championship with a 5–1 victory over Werder Bremen, completing the most important achievement in the club's men's history.
Sources2 sources
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