VfL Wolfsburg: Rudolph demands team spirit and Benaglio brings expertise!

VfL Wolfsburg: Rudolph demands team spirit and Benaglio brings expertise!

The foundation for an exciting new season is currently being laid in the heart of Wolfsburg. While the wolves complete their training camp in the picturesque Weimar region, the team not only receives intensive preparation, but also a breath of fresh air in leadership. Sebastian Rudolph, the new head of the supervisory board, immediately took a clear position in his address to the team and fans. He spoke on July 24, 2025 about the commitment, team spirit and passion that are urgently needed to achieve the goal of European competition this year. “The road to the new season begins here and now,” he told those in attendance as the players prepare for the challenges ahead.

Rudolph, who will succeed Frank Witter as chairman of the supervisory board from August 1st, is no stranger to the world of football. He brings extensive experience in communications and politics, particularly from his time at Porsche AG and the VW Group. Witter, who has been in office since 2018, will hand over leadership at the end of July, signaling a clear generational change on the supervisory board. In addition to Witter, three other members of the Supervisory Board will also be leaving, which will further drive the change process forward. However, this is not surprising, because at the age of 80, Rolf Schnellecke is also leaving the committee; he is considered a formative figure from the very beginning.

Experience on the supervisory board

Another prominent newcomer to the supervisory board is Diego Benaglio. The former goalkeeper, who played for Wolves between 2008 and 2017 and holds the club's record with 321 appearances, returns to VfL in this new role. Benaglio took up his position on July 1, 2025, bringing not only his expertise but also his passion for the club. “I’m really happy to be part of VfL again and to give something back,” said the 41-year-old, who was able to celebrate the German championship in 2009 and the DFB Cup in 2015 with the Wolves. His commitment is not only a valuable asset to the supervisory board, but also a sign of his deep connection to the club.

Rudolph described Benaglio as an ideal reinforcement and praised his positive nature and his popularity with the team. “It is important to have such sporting expertise on the committee,” emphasized Rudolph, as the Wolves concentrate on the upcoming friendlies and the challenge of preparing for the Bundesliga. The dialogue with the fans also remains of great importance for the new chairman in order to strengthen the cohesion around VfL. “Together we are strong,” said Rudolph.

A promising start

With a clear focus on team cohesion and passion, VfL Wolfsburg is looking optimistically into the future. The preparations in Weimarer Land are seen as a solid basis for the upcoming season. The supervisory board members present, including Wolfgang Hotze, Gunnar Kilian and Dennis Weilmann, support the initiative and contribute their own experiences and perspectives.

As exciting as the coming weeks will be, one thing is certain: the Wolves are ready to take on the challenge and are already showing that there is a lot of movement and change to come this season. It will be interesting to see how the combination of new leadership and old relationships will affect performance on the pitch.