Dutchman Paul Simonis has been appointed VfL Wolfsburg’s head coach ahead of the 2025/26 season. The 40-year-old, who recently led Go Ahead Eagles to victory in the Dutch Cup and a seventh-place finish in the Eredivisie, has signed a contract with the Wolves until 30 June 2027. As well as long-serving goalkeeping coach Pascal Formann, Simonis’ coaching team will include Tristan Berghuis, Peter van der Veen and Martin Darneviel. The Green-and-Whites’ new coach will be officially unveiled at the beginning of July.
“He fits our requirement profile perfectly”
“At the end of an intensive process, we opted for Paul Simonis,” said Peter Christiansen, VfL’s managing director for sport. “He fits our requirement profile perfectly. Paul works very diligently in all areas. We share the same ideas and concepts in terms of content and structure for how we want to present ourselves on the pitch and realign VfL Wolfsburg with fresh impetus, while at the same time continuing to drive our development – from the first team to the youth department. Paul also brings a great deal of energy and passion. We’re looking forward to going on this journey together.”
“Very good, comprehensive, high-level discussions”
“I can hardly wait to take on this challenge and get to grips with the team, the staff and this environment,” added Simonis. “The talks I had with Peter Christiansen, Sebastian Schindzielorz and Sebastian Rudolph were very good, comprehensive and of a high level. That immediately gave me the feeling that this decision was the right step. I’m really looking forward to working at a top level in a very strong and exciting league.”
First title with Go Ahead Eagles in 92 years
Simonis only took charge of Go Ahead Eagles last summer but led them to their first trophy in 92 years by beating favourites AZ Alkmaar 4-2 on penalties in the final of the Dutch Cup. The Dutchman, who also guided the Deventer-based side to a seventh-place finish in the Eredivisie, previously worked as an assistant coach at Go Ahead and SC Heerenveen. He also spent 15 years with Sparta Rotterdam as a youth coach after joining the club in 2005, taking over the U17s in 2017 and the U19s the following year.
