VfL Bochum has announced the departure of both Head Coach Dieter Hecking and Sporting Director Dirk Dufner, effective immediately. The decision, revealed on Monday, comes following a challenging start to the season for the club.
David Siebers, previously coach of the VfL Bochum U19 team, has been appointed as interim coach for the professional squad, beginning Tuesday. Siebers, 38, has been a fixture within the club’s youth development system for the past eleven years, holding various coaching roles.
The club cited a “sporting disappointing season start” following their recent relegation to the second division, alongside a perceived “lack of development” within the team as contributing factors to the personnel changes. An official statement indicated that the decision followed “intensive discussions with all stakeholders” and represented a “difficult step.
Currently, VfL Bochum has secured only one victory in their first five league matches, placing them in a precarious 16th position within the league, occupying the relegation playoff spot. Their progression in the recent DFB-Pokal match against fourth-tier side BFC Dynamo also required an extended period of extra time.
