Ralph Hasenhüttl did not have to think twice to accept the coaching position at struggling Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in a Bundesliga return without more than a year without a job.
"I'm very happy to be back in the Bundesliga. For me, the decision was easy because I was able to recover for a long time and felt the hunger again. I didn't have to think long to say yes," Hasenhüttl told reporters at his presentation on Monday.
"It's not that I was bored at home. But the knowledge that you have gained over such a long time as a head coach is longing to be put to good use.
"I'm looking forward to bringing all the experience I've gained as a coach to this club."
Austrian Hasenhüttl led Ingolstadt into the Bundesliga almost a decade ago and was RB Leipzig coach 2016-2018 before moving on to England's Southampton from December 2018 until he had to go in November 2022.
At the 2009 champions Wolfsburg, he succeeds Niko Kovac who was axed on Sunday as the team remains winless in 2024 and has won only twice in 20 games to slip to 14th, six points above the danger zone.
"The task is clear. We have to try to get back to winning ways in order to stay in the league. Ultimately, it's about getting my style of football into the team as quickly as possible," Hasenhüttl said.
Wolfsburg said that Hasenhüttl has signed a long term contract, without giving exact details.
"We have a short-term situation in which we need to quickly restore our belief in winning. The other perspective is long-term planning: we want to focus on young players with development potential. Ralph can do both things," sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz said.
