Surprising Sebastian Hoeness Tactic

Sebastian Hoeness has guided Stuttgart to a top 4 finish so far, in the Bundesliga. If they will remain there until the end of the season is a different story.

They beat Borussia Dortmund twice this season and narrowly missed to cause Bayer Leverkusen’s first defeat of the season.

Sebastian Hoeness is the son of former international player Dieter Hoeness, and the nephew of Uli Hoeness - also a former international and the former president of Bayern München.

He played as an attacking midfielder, mostly for the second team of Hertha Berlin. He started his managerial career at the second team of Bayern München, before taking on his first major club management role, with Hoffenheim.

He managed the club from 2020 to 2022 but failed to rise to the board’s expectations – leaving the club after finishing 9th in the 2021-2022 season.

He led the club from the bottom of the Bundesliga to the relegation play-offs, in which they defeated Hamburg SV.

And from then on, the sky became the limit for Stuttgart, a team that is currently taking by surprise most of the Bundesliga teams.

As a tactic, it looks simple…at first. A 4-4-2 formation, that is deceiving the opposition into believing that Stuttgart is there to defend, whilst their approach is all about attack.

Sebastian Hoeness has used many tactics this season, adapting very well to the opposition. A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-2-2-2 were used often.

But, the 4-4-2 was preferred in recent matches.

A sweeper keeper on attack duty in goal. This is chosen as the goalkeeper must become a passing option and intercept the loose balls.

In front of him, a back four made of a wing back on attack duty. This player is required to go up and down the right flank and spring crosses when possible.

The tactic is created in a way in which it allows the wing backs to overlap and become additional players in attack.

Take more risks and stay wider as player instructions for him.

Two ball playing defenders for the central backs. No special instructions for them, but they are required to stop any counterattacks that may form.

As only them and one of the midfielders are going to hold on at the back when their team is in possession.

And a full back on support on the left side. The full back role is preferred as for Stuttgart, the right back is often venturing forward more. Maximilian Mittelstädt is usually playing in this position and goes forward when the time is right.

Cross more often, hold position and stay wider are the player instructions for him.

A winger on support on the right side. Though by the nature of the position, this player appears to stay wider, he will get narrow as the tactic dictates. Leaving space for the wing back to overlap and offer a passing option on the flank.

Get further forward for him.

A central midfielder on support and a deep lying playmaker on defend duty as the two central midfielders.

In any Stuttgart tactical formation used this season, a pivot has always remained constant. For this reason, the deep lying playmaker role is preferred, as it fulfills two duties – being the passing hub of the team and becoming a defensive role when he is not in possession, but his team is.

This player is encouraged to pass it shorter. And if the possession is prolonged, he will get up the pitch and come late in the opposition’s defense.

And an inverted winger on attack duty on the left side. This player is required to sit narrower but has attack duty turned on as he is required to become a third striker at times.

As the complete forward drops to pick up the ball, the inverted winger can underlap him and cut inside in the half space, attacking the goal.

And an advanced forward completes the tactic. At times, Stuttgart has used the strikers with a dropping deep to get the ball instructions and for this reason, the advanced forward is told to roam from position.

I have noticed that in the game, two ball playing strikers often reduce the attacking output, unless two inside forward or more incisive wingers or attacking midfielders are used.

As mentality I went with positive. But attacking or balanced work as well.

In possession, fairly narrow attacking width, pass into space and overlap on both flanks, with play out of defense.

Stuttgart do like to find free space with their passes. And this is possible as the team is patient when defending, allowing the opposition to bring men forward. To be able to utilize their own wide players on the counter.

Shorter passing directness and a standard tempo. And whipped crosses.

In transition counter press, distribute the ball quickly and through short kicks. The counterattack option is ticked off as we let the players decide when to use it.

Out of possession, mid-block – as mentioned, Stuttgart defend patiently. A higher defensive line is used to crowd the midfield space, congesting it, especially for teams which prefer to focus their play through the center of the pitch.

Trigger press more often and prevent goalkeeper short distribution. As the prevent goalkeeper short distribution option would bring the players forward, to press, you can tick it if off if you see that your players are being dragged off positions often.

Also, using a higher defensive line requires more skilled defenders. And faster ones. But the mid-block helps in this case, as all your players will defend deeper, getting the lines closer together making it nearly impossible to concede space.

As results, domestically, of course we won the treble this season as well. We are dominating domestically by now, in my building a nation save in Romania with FC Voluntari. We scored 103 goals and conceded 29.

And we managed to lose only 2 games out of the 40 played.

But, as we may be too good for the domestic competitions, we measure our strengths in European competitions.

And there we struggled a bit. However, we did lose against tough opposition.

As mentioned earlier, Sebastian Hoeness and Stuttgart used multiple tactics this season. And the 4-4-2 formation became more prevalent lately.

But this suggests that Sebastian Hoeness is a good tactician and if he managed to have this good performance with Stuttgart, imagine what he can achieve managing any other team.