SEBASTIAN HOENESS STUTTGART 2023-2024 TACTIC FINISHED 4TH WITH STUTTGART

SEBASTIAN HOENESS’S VFB STUTTGART IN FOOTBALL MANAGER 2024

A 4-4-2 formation can effectively replicate Sebastian Hoeneß's tactics with VfB Stuttgart in Football Manager 2024. Here's how to set it up, focusing on the tactical principles he employs: 

Mentality: Positive (it may work also with attacking if you use stronger teams)

In possession

• Fairly narrow attack width: the players stay compact, wider spaces will be occupied by the two wing-backs who overlaps
• Play out of defense: Hoeness likes Stuttgart to patiently build the play, trick the opponent into press them and exploit the spaces
• Overlap left and right: as said, overlaps are frequently used to create 2vs1 situations
• Pass into space: searching for spaces and exploiting them is a key in Stuttgart’s playing style
• Mixed crosses: Stuttgart often relies into crosses and due to the players’ different qualities, mixed crosses are the best choice.
• Shorter passing directness: when the team builds the play from the back, players are very patient and want to maintain possession. If you want to have even more possession control, change to much shorter. 
• Slightly higher tempo: Stuttgart does not play with a very high tempo, players decide tempo according to the situation, therefore, I believe slightly higher is a good choice. 

In transition

• Counter-press: players apply pressure to win the ball back after losing possession as soon as possible
• Counter: I did not select this option because once Stuttgart players are able to win the ball back, they can choose to launch a counterattack or to wait and build the play patiently according to the situation. Therefore, I let my players decide.
• Slow pace down: once again, Hoeness wants his players to play slowly when they are in their half, and the keeper does it too.
• Distribute to center backs and take short kicks: starting play from the defense

Out of possession

• Mid-block: combined with a much higher defensive line allows our team to stay compact, restricting the spaces between the two lines that could be exploited by the opponent.
• Much higher defensive line: as said above, it helps our team to gain compactness
• Trigger press more often: pressing is very important in Hoeness’s tactics
• Prevent short gk distribution: with two strikers, it becomes much easier to press the GK and force him to play long-balls that can be easily intercepted by our players
• Trap outside: use the touchline as an additional defender and avoid the opponent players to create threats from the center
• Stop crosses: stop the opponent to cross the ball to the center of the box avoiding potential threats

Players roles and instructions

Nubel: sweeper-keeper (attack): inspired by De Zerbi (and we can see it in Farioli’s OG Nice too), the goalkeeper becomes a playmaker, he stays very high, is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can hold the ball as long as he wants until he finds some space. He can pass it to the defenders or even try to play a long ball towards the strikers, bypassing the midfield.

Wing-backs

Vagnoman: wing-back (attack). Stay wider, dribble more, take more risks.

Vagnoman pushes forward more than Mittelstaedt on the other flank, and he rotates his position with the right winger (Millot or whoever plays in that position) 

Maximilian Mittelstädt: wing-back-support: dribble more, stay wider.

He pushes forward less than Vagnoman and that’s why I chose the support duty instead of the attack one. The instruction dribble more does not mean that he will try to dribble past every opponent like crazy, but that he will carry the ball forward when he can to exploit spaces. For the same reason, this instruction applies to the right wing-back Vagnoman and the two ball-playing defenders too.

The hardworking left-back has made a significant impact since transferring to VfB Stuttgart from Hertha Berlin last summer. Initially a substitute, Mittelstädt’s offensive prowess and chemistry with Führich led the coaching staff to elevate him to the starting lineup. Recognized as one of the top players in his position, Mittelstädt is defensively strong with his timely tackles and keen anticipation. His accurate crosses consistently challenge opposing defenses, and his eagerness to join the attack and make forward runs adds a dynamic element to Stuttgart’s offense. Like Führich, Mittelstädt's stellar performances have earned him a call-up to the German national team, marking a major milestone in his career.

Central defenders

Zagadou: ball-playing defender (defend): mark tighter, tackle harder, dribble more, stay wider.

Rouault: ball-playing defender (defend):  mark tighter, tackle harder, dribble more, stay wider.

Both defenders have the only task to stop all opponent attacks because they, along with the DLP are the only players who hold back. 

They stay wider to cover spaces left behind by the two wing-backs who stay wider and higher. 

Wingers

Millot: inverted winger-attack: sit narrower, cross more often.

As an inverted winger, he may cut inside to leave space for the right wing-back, he provides crosses and pushes forward in attack

Chris Führich: inverted winger-attack: sit narrower, cross more often, take more risks, roam from position. Führich sits narrower and cut inside exploiting spaces between the lines especially when Stiller drops deep. With roam from position instruction, he will find the best position to cross or to shoot from long distance and posing threats to the opponent defense. 

Chris Führich, a graduate of Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy, has become an essential player for VfB Stuttgart in his third Bundesliga season. Boasting seven goals and seven assists, Führich is a key element in the team's attack, which recently earned him a call-up to the German national team. Renowned for his dynamism and off-the-ball acceleration, Führich is a persistent threat to opposing defenses with his incisive runs and dribbling skills. Though he could attract more fouls, his skill in delivering precise crosses enhances Stuttgart’s offensive play, generating numerous scoring chances for his teammates.

Central Midfielders

Karazor: defensive midfielder-support (mark tighter, get further forward): he has both defensive and attacking tasks, he drops deep to help the defense and moves forward to exploit spaces. In this tactic he is a defensive midfielder in support, and he is instructed to mark tighter and get further forward to support attack. Atakan Karazor, the imposing midfielder who stands at 1.91 meters, has become a crucial player for VfB Stuttgart at the age of 27. His defensive skills and aerial superiority are key to the team's double-pivot system. Karazor’s knack for winning aerial duels, thanks to his impressive height and perfect timing, adds strength to Stuttgart’s midfield. His disciplined play minimizes fouls, enhancing his defensive reliability. Though less involved in build-up play, he excels at executing one- or two-touch passes. His role as a defensive shield is vital, providing essential support for the backline and allowing his midfield partner to control the play higher up the field.

Stiller: deep-lying playmaker- defend. He plays as a deep-lying playmaker, he dictates the tempo and in defense he drops deep, allowing Chris Führich to cut inside and exploit the spaces. Partnering effectively with Karazor in the double pivot, Stiller shines in initiating attacks and dismantling opposition defenses with his sharp passing and keen vision. His seamless transitions from defense to offense enhance the fluidity of Stuttgart's midfield. Additionally, his calmness under pressure and skill in delivering accurate passes make him an essential part of the team's strategy.

Strikers 

Guirassy: complete forward-support: except tackle harder, the role preset instructions are all what we need. If you have a striker who is better at scoring than at linking the play in your team, you can give him an attack duty instead of support. 

Deniz Undav: advanced forward-attack: tackle harder, roam from position. He moves a lot and can pose threats from various positions.