“We have clear ideas”

During the official unveiling of new managing director Peter Christiansen recently, it almost went under the radar that Sebastian Schindzielorz has also committed his future to the club. The 45-year-old, who is entering his second full season as VfL sporting director, has big plans for the Green-and-Whites. In this interview, Schindzielorz talks about the reasons for his contract extension, personnel changes at management level and the new season.

The Wolves returned to the training pitch last Thursday, beginning the players’ 2024/25 pre-season preparations. But when did you start gearing your work towards the new campaign?

Schindzielorz: “You can’t really put a timeframe on it because it’s a permanent process. You’re constantly in touch with the scouting department and agents over the whole year. There aren’t any periods of standstill.”

Over the last few weeks, you’ve not only had player contracts on your desk, but also a new one of your own, which has now been extended. How did this come about?

Schindzielorz: “I had very open and transparent talks with the supervisory board and Frank Witter. Our discussions were good and based on trust. I’m very pleased that a solution has been found and that I will continue to be part of the club.”

To get straight to the point: why did you extend your contract with VfL Wolfsburg?

Schindzielorz: “When my contract expired at Bochum, I made a very conscious decision to choose this new challenge – and I’m still very happy that I did so. I’ve got an emotional connection with this club. I had a very successful and special time in Wolfsburg as a player, but also in my personal life. My children were born here. Working for this club in this environment with the people in this city means a lot to me. For me, it’s the whole package.”

What are your thoughts on the new setup with Peter Christiansen?

Schindzielorz: “I’m very happy that in Peter we have someone who has a different view of football in Germany and of the club and who, as has already become clear, brings his own ideas and thought processes to the table. Getting new ideas can only be positive for a group. I try to do my best to make it as easy as possible for him to get settled.”

Are you able to indicate how much the team will change?

Schindzielorz: “It’s a very dynamic process, so it’s incredibly difficult to make any predictions. But we have clear ideas in mind and we know which positions we want to make changes in. We’re on track so far but I expect there will be movement in both directions.”

What can we expect from the Wolves in the new season?

Schindzielorz: “We’ve already made it clear that we’re not satisfied with where we finished last season. With that in mind, we want to improve and do significantly better than we have recently. As a general rule, VfL Wolfsburg is a club with European ambitions.”