Overview

• Simonis admitted the call from Wolfsburg caught him off guard after just 11 months in the Dutch second division.
• Sporting director Peter Christiansen endorsed him as the club’s top candidate, valuing his football philosophy over extensive Bundesliga tenure.
• He officially took charge on July 1, setting in motion pre-season preparations ahead of the Bundesliga campaign.
• Embracing the fan-coined nickname "Gouda-Guardiola," Simonis cited Pep Guardiola as a major influence on his coaching style.
• He inherits a squad that finished 11th last season and is tasked with restoring Wolfsburg’s European ambitions after four years.