Reasons to pay attention to Stuttgart, Celtic’s rivals in the Europa League

I remember being humorously informed during my university years by individuals from Northern Germany that as a Scot, I should feel quite at home in Stuttgart due to the supposed Geiz (frugality) of the inhabitants of Schwabenland (Swabia)!

This is an old stereotype that often fails to reflect reality, and I believe — I trust — that most fair-minded individuals would agree regarding my fellow countrymen. In fact, I am quite certain that supporters of Celtic and VfB Stuttgart will appreciate and enjoy each other’s footballing spirit when they face off in one of the most captivating two-legged UEFA Europa League matchups in the coming days.

What should Celtic fans be aware of beforehand?

– Meet Noahkai Banks: The outside candidate for USMNT’s World Cup roster
– Harry Kane reaches 500 goals: Analyzing stats behind his impressive form
– Amid further Bundesliga achievements, Bayern’s Pokal drought looms large

In my view, VfB Stuttgart embodies an underrated footballing and cultural presence beyond Germany, and many will discover their influence and allure.

The journey begins with the unique Brustring (the red ring or hoop around the team’s white jersey). Last August, the club commemorated 100 years of the Brustring, and the accompanying organic choreography from the ever-passionate Cannstatter Kurve created a memorable atmosphere during that match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

For some inexplicable reason, Stuttgart is seldom mentioned as a must-visit destination for watching a football match, yet it truly deserves recognition. Nearly 60,000 supporters fill the MHP Arena for every home game, regardless of circumstances, making it a rite of passage. The team has a vast fan base in the Southwest, and for many local supporters, it would simply be unthinkable to support another club.

Despite being three-time Bundesliga champions and four-time Pokalsieger (German Cup winners), including last May, Stuttgart and its supporters have experienced a wide range of emotional highs and lows in recent years. They faced the dreaded Abstieg (demotion) in 2016 and 2019, but fortunately, in both instances, they rebounded to achieve Klassenerhalt (returning to the top) at the first attempt.

Nevertheless, in both 2022 and 2023, this prominent club began the 2. Bundesliga anew and narrowly avoided relegation. In the first case, their salvation came through a dramatic 92nd-minute goal on the final day against Köln from Wataru Endo. A year later, they had to navigate the tense relegation playoff against Hamburger SV.

By that time, the sophisticated Sebastian Hoeneß had taken over the management. It is hard to believe his appointment was less than three years ago, as in a remarkably short time, the nephew of Uli and son of Dieter has led VfB — Verein für Bewegungsspiele (literally, “club for movement games”) — to one of the most successful periods in its history. His achievement of guiding Stuttgart to a runners-up finish in the Bundesliga (ahead of Bayern Munich, no less) in 2024 and a Pokalsieg in 2025, while parting ways with key players seemingly every summer, highlights the coach’s skill and that of Sportchef Fabian Wohlgemuth in securing suitable replacements.

Consider the list of departures. In 2023, Endo, Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Borna Sosa left. In 2024, it was captain Waldemar Anton and prolific striker Serhou Guirassy, both moving to Dortmund, along with Hiroki Ito to Bayern. Then last summer, Nick Woltemade and Enzo Millot departed.

However, Stuttgart, in their current form, is focused on securing a UEFA Champions League spot for the next season and currently sits in the top four after winning five of their last seven Bundesliga matches in 2026 so far. They face the demanding yet desirable Dreifachbelastung (burden of competing in three competitions) and have a Pokal semifinal to anticipate in late April as they aim to defend their title.

Hoeneß generally prefers his team to maintain possession, and the rotation of attacking players, resembling a revolving door, keeps opponents on their toes. You can never be certain of their next move. Nevertheless, arguably their finest performance of the year occurred in Leverkusen, where they executed intense Gegenpressing, suffocating the opponents at the source and concluding the match before halftime.

The player who most drives their success is the formidable Deniz Undav, who, while favoring a Döner kebab over the more traditional local dishes of Maultaschen (dumplings) and Spätzle (a pasta derivative), embodies the club’s football ethos more than anyone else.

Essentially a forward with Spielmacher (playmaker) attributes, the 29-year-old is typically deployed just behind pure striker Ermedin Demirovic. However, it is noteworthy that since 2023, only Harry Kane and Undav’s former teammate Guirassy have scored more goals.

Jamie Leweling is also a significant threat, and the challenge lies in determining how to contain him, whether he plays on the right, the left, or cuts into the center. Leweling has made considerable progress since his time at Union Berlin and Greuther Fürth. The midfield is anchored by twin central midfielders, captain Atakan Karazor and ball-playing left-footer Angelo Stiller, a favorite of Hoeneß, who also worked with him at Bayern II and TSG Hoffenheim. When Stiller scores, it is often with a long-range strike.

The left side poses a challenge for opponents with capable fullback Maximilian Mittelstädt, who collaborates with Dribbelkönig (dribbling king) Chris Führich, who has returned to form after a difficult previous season. While it would be unfair to label the right side as a defensive weakness, I always sense there is Luft nach oben (room for improvement) regarding the two right-back positions occupied by Josha Vagnoman and Lorenz Assignon.

Jeff Chabot serves as the defensive leader. Left-footed, commanding, and rightly considered a national team candidate for the World Cup, the former Köln player pairs well with the talented and ball-savvy 19-year-old Finn Jeltsch.

In goal, Alexander Nübel — a long-term Bayern loanee — seldom disappoints. I cannot envision Hoeneß attempting to press as aggressively in Glasgow as Stuttgart did in Leverkusen. However, it is something to monitor, particularly the positioning of Karazor.

Regardless of the outcome in the upcoming week during this intriguing Europa League matchup, the Wertschätzung (appreciation) for the individuals wearing the Brustring and their supporters is sure to increase.