Former Wolf Jens Todt on the game between two of his ex-clubs on Saturday.
It has been well over a decade since Jens Todt was at VfL Wolfsburg. After making 209 Bundesliga appearances for SC Freiburg, Werder Bremen and VfB Stuttgart, he served as head of the Wolves’ youth academy between February 2010 and June 2011 before holding subsequent roles at VfL Bochum, Karlsruher SC and Hamburger SV. In this interview, the 54-year-old discussed what he is up to these days and looked ahead to VfL’s trip to Freiburg on Saturday.
Jens Todt, welcome back to the VfL Wolfsburg website. How have you been since you left the club almost 13 years ago?
Jens Todt: “(Laughs) Thanks a lot. I live in Potsdam, where I’ve been with my family for the last 20 years. I had a few spells at some different clubs along the way, most of which were a lot of fun. On the whole, I’m doing well.”
What is your current job?
Todt: “I look after and advise players, coaches and other specialists in the industry. It all started after I left Hamburg a couple of years ago and I asked myself what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I really like being self-employed. I think it’s a huge boost to my quality of life and I enjoy it a lot.”
This weekend the Wolves are away at SC Freiburg. Is there anything in particular that you associate with this fixture?
Todt: “The first thing that comes to mind is a statistic I read recently that said that the head-to-head record between these teams is completely even, which was very surprising. I would have thought VfL had an advantage. But it just goes to show how good and how consistent Freiburg have been in the Bundesliga.”
You worked for VfL for 16 months but played for Freiburg for five years, so we’re assuming your connection to the Black Forest club is a bit stronger?
Todt: “In Freiburg I was socialised as a footballer, so to speak. And I was shaped by a coach, namely Volker Finke, who had coached me two years earlier at TSV Havelse, and had even been a teacher at my school before that. Those years as a young man are very formative, so I must say that this period had a big influence on me.”
Are you still in contact with anyone at VfL from your time here?
Todt: “Oh yes, quite a bit. For example, I’m still in touch with Francisco Coppi, and I know Sebastian Schindzielorz and Michael Gentner. There are also various members of staff who were at the club when I was at VfL. One of my clients, U19 player Manuel Braun, is also at VfL, so I’m in Wolfsburg quite regularly because of him – most recently just a couple of weeks ago.”
With four rounds of Bundesliga fixtures to go, Freiburg are in seventh place and are fighting for a third straight season of European football. VfL have had a tough period but recently earned some breathing space with the win over Bochum. What sort of game are you expecting on Saturday?
Todt: “I think the victory over Bochum was incredibly important because it gives everything a different feel now. The team have a bit of a cushion over the sides below them, and also have a better goal difference. That allows you to go out onto the pitch in a completely different way than you did previously. Having said that, I’m expecting a very strong, aggressive Freiburg side. It’s Christian Streich’s farewell tour and he’ll want to sign off on a high from his last season in charge. For that reason it’ll be a really tough task for VfL. I think if the Wolves can take a point from the game they can be satisfied.”
How and where will you watch the game?
Todt: “I’ll probably be in my car on my way to an appointment, so I’ll be listening on the radio, which I love to do.”
