Discover how Seb Hoeneß transformed Stuttgart in FM24 with this tactical recreation, from relegation struggles to Champions League success.
Recreate Sebastian Hoeneß’ tactical masterclass that led Stuttgart from
relegation to Champions League glory in FM24.
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Since taking over at Stuttgart in April 2023, Sebastien Hoeneß has taken the sleeping giant from the slumps of the relegation places in the Bundesliga, to the immense heights of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League! In 18 months, Sebastien Hoeneß has gone from a relatively unknown manager at Hoffenheim, to being regarded as one of the hottest prospects in the managerial world in football, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea reportedly holding an interest in the 42-year-old. In this article, I’ll be going through my recreation of his Stuttgart tactics and showcasing my impressive results with the tactic! Firstly, let’s dive into how Sebastian Hoeneß sets up his Stuttgart side.
Compact Mid-High Block
At Stuttgart, Sebastian Hoeneß has implemented one of the most solid mid-high blocks in Europe, with Stuttgart conceding the joint-second least goals in the Bundesliga in 23/24 and accumulating the second most clean sheets (12). The aim in this mid-high block is that Stuttgart will sit in a mid-block and close off central options. Then, when the opponent plays a particular pass/takes an awkward touch, the mid-block will transition to a high-press. A lot of the time, the trigger to move to the high-press is when the ball is passed backwards or when the ball is passed to the opposition’s central centre-back. From here, one of the strikers will press high and the midfield pivot behind him will squeeze high and zonally mark their respective opposing midfielders. To accommodate this, the defensive line will squeeze quite high and will look to step into midfield to retrieve loose balls.
To replicate this in FM24, I used these Team Instructions:
- ‘Much Higher Defensive Line’
- ‘Mid-Block’
- ‘Trigger Press: More Often’
For Player Instructions, I applied:
- ‘Mark Tighter’ and ‘Tackle Harder’ to the right centre-back to make them step up and recover loose balls.
Bait-And-Switch – Baiting the Press
In 22/23, the term ‘Baiting the press’ gained major popularity as Roberto De Zerbi successfully implemented a style at Brighton, where the defenders and goalkeeper would put their studs on the ball and stand still with the ball. The aim of this is to draw the opposition in to press (bait) and then play through their press, typically using third-man combinations to find the inevitable spare man, giving them a major advantage in build-up(switch). This way, Brighton could draw the opposition’s defensive line high and they could create transitional opportunities to exploit it (almost like counter-attacks). At Stuttgart, Seb Hoeneß has implemented this style of build-up to great success, as you’ll commonly see Stuttgart evade pressure with ease and progress up the pitch.
To replicate this:
- Team Instructions: ‘Play Out of Defence’, ‘Shorter Passing’, ‘Take Short Kicks’, ‘Distribute to Centre-Backs’, and ‘Slow Pace Down’.
- As Hoeneß uses a slightly higher tempo than De Zerbi’s Brighton, I’ve also included ‘Slightly Higher Tempo’.
Fluid, Attacking Football
Hoeneß is a big advocate for attacking football and this shows in his Stuttgart side, who, once progressed from first phase build-up, will consistently look for the best way to score goals within the context of the match. This can be through crosses, cut-backs, passes in-behind the defence, utilising relationist concepts or even going back to the ‘keeper and trying to create another artificial transition. In 23/24, Stuttgart generated 71.8xG and scored 78 goals, ranking them 3rd in the league for both. To replicate this, I applied the ‘Attacking’ Team Mentality and the Team Instruction ‘Work Ball into Box’. To encourage the slight utilisation of relationist concepts, I applied the Team Instructions ‘Fairly Narrow’ and ‘Be More Expressive’. Finally, in 23/24, Stuttgart averaged 9.8 successful dribbles per 90 – one of the highest amounts in the Bundesliga.
To replicate this:
- Team Instructions: ‘Attacking Mentality’, ‘Work Ball into Box’, ‘Fairly Narrow’, ‘Be More Expressive’, and ‘Run at Defence’.
Let’s Break Down the Tactic
Team Instructions
In-Possession:
Emphasis on creating artificial transitions and exploiting the spare man in possession, with ‘Shorter Passing’, ‘Slightly Higher Tempo’, ‘Play Out of Defence’ and ‘Pass into Space’ all selected. ‘Be More Expressive’, ‘Run at Defence’ and ‘Fairly Narrow’ all encourage relationism concepts. ‘Work Ball into Box’ allows a variety of different chances created.
In Transition:
‘Bait-and-Switch' emphasized with ‘Slow Pace Down’, ‘Take Short Kicks’ and ‘Distribute to Centre-Backs' all selected. Emphasis on transitions accentuated with ‘Counter’ and ‘Counter-Press’ enabled.
Out of Possession:
Compact mid-high block recreated with ‘Mid-Block’, ‘Much Higher Defensive Line’, ‘Trap Outside’ and the Trigger Press instruction set to ‘More Often’.
Player Instructions
Sweeper-Keeper – Attack:
Hoeneß wants his ‘keeper to join the centre-backs to create a back-3 in the first phase of build-up. From here, Stuttgart will have a numerical advantage anywhere on the pitch. This eases access to the spare man, which coincides in the creation of artificial counter-attacks. To enable this, I applied the ‘Sweeper-Keeper’ role with the ‘Attack’ duty – no additional Player Instructions.
Wing-Back – Attack:
In Stuttgart’s system, the full-backs are integral to the way the team play, as they’re given license to carry the ball forward into the opposition’s half. The right-back in the system, usually Vagnoman, is given much more licence than the left-back, as they’re allowed to move into the opponent’s final 3rd to provide a secondary threat. They’re also given the freedom to link with the winger on their side (usually Millot) and to move inside or outside to enhance their combination. These things are shown as Vagnoman ranks in the 88th percentile for non-penalty goals, 86th percentile for npxG (Non-Penalty xG) and the 92nd percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area. In-game, the ‘Wing-Back’ role on the ‘Attack’ duty will usually get into the opposition’s penalty area (as seen by Vagnoman who conjured up 8 goals in-game), however to encourage the combination with the winger on the same side, I applied the ‘Dribble More’, ‘Cut Inside with Ball’ and ‘Sit Narrower’ Player Instructions, as seen below:
(DC R) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend:
The right centre-back in Hoeneß’ system, more often than the left centre-back, has to be able to be comfortable with the ball at their feet and able to step into midfield to contest duels and retrieve loose balls. To encourage the latter, I applied the ‘Tackle Harder’ and ‘Mark Tighter’ Player Instructions. To encourage the former, I applied the ‘Dribble More’ Player Instruction. In the 1st phase pf build-up, the centre-backs in Stuttgart’s system have to split wide to allow the ‘keeper to form the back-three. To encourage this, I applied the ‘Stay Wider’ Player Instruction. You can see these instructions applied below:
%20Ball-Playing%20Defender%20%E2%80%93%20Defend.png "(DC R) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend")
(DC L) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend:
Again, like with the right centre-back, Hoeneß wants his defenders to be comfortable with the ball at their feet and he wants them to split wide to accommodate the ‘keeper. This is reflected in the ‘Stay Wider’ Player Instruction being applied – the only Player Instruction for this, as seen below:
%20Ball-Playing%20Defender%20%E2%80%93%20Defend.png "(DC L) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend")
Full-Back – Support:
The left-back in Hoeneß' system is, unlike the right-back, more reserved in his positioning, usually being instructed to form a back-three in settled possession with the two centre-backs. However, from this position, the left-back is often given licence to move forward and carry the ball into the opposition half, and sometimes into their penalty area. Along with this, the left-back (primarily Mittelstädt) will look to play balls in-behind for a winger or striker to chase. This is shown as Mittelstädt ranks in the 97th percentile for xA (Expected Assists) per 90 and the 87th percentile for Key Passes per 90. To replicate these things, I’ve applied the ‘Take More Risks’, ‘Dribble More’ and ‘Run Wide with the Ball’ Player Instructions. Mittelstädt is also encouraged to whip crosses in to dangerous areas, as he’s ranked in the 85th percentile for crosses per 90. To allow this, I applied the ‘Cross Aim Centre’ Player Instruction. You can see these instructions below:
Defensive Midfielder – Defend:
Hoeneß' system also relies on two midfielders who are more than comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, and Karazor is exactly that. With Karazor and Stiller, Hoeneß has a great combination of ball retention and ball progression, with Karazorßusually opting to recycle the ball to team-mates. Hoeneß also wants his midfield pivot to be aggressive off-the-ball, in an attempt to unsettle the opposition’s build-up and possession. To replicate this, I applied the Player Instructions ‘Pass It Shorter’ and ‘Tackle Harder’ - the only Player Instructions, as seen below:
Regista – Support:
Stiller is the definition of a ‘metronome’ in Stuttgart’s midfield, always available to receive the ball, always on the move and always able to dictate the tempo of the game. He’s also got a smooth carrying ability, allowing him to evade pressure. Stiller will often drop deep to receive the ball from the centre-backs, before making a darting run to receive the ball in-behind or as a result of a relationist combination in midfield – there's no wonder all of Europe’s elite are reportedly keen on him. To replicate these things, I applied the ‘Dribble More’ and ‘Get Further Forward’ Player Instructions, along with the ‘Tackle Harder’ instruction to encourage aggression. These can be seen below:
(M R) Inverted Winger – Support:
On the right side, Millot has typically been the player starting for Stuttgart. In this system, both wingers are encouraged to hold high and wide positions in the first phase of build-up. However, in Millot’s case, he can drift inside to create a triangle with the two strikers and create central overloads. Along with that, you’ll often see Millot moving from right to left in order to create wide overloads, both numerically and superiorly, with Führich. In these positions, Millot is given licence to dribble at his opponent, before often trying to thread passes in-behind for the strikers to run on to. To recreate these things, I applied the ‘Stay Wider’, ‘Roam from Position’ and ‘Take More Risks’ Player Instructions. To accentuate the Team Instructions, I applied the ‘Cross Aim Centre’ and ‘Close Down More’ Player Instructions, the only Player Instructions applied – as seen below:
%20Inverted%20Winger%20%E2%80%93%20Support.png "(M R) Inverted Winger – Support:")
(M L) Inverted Winger – Support:
On the left, Führich tends to do a similar thing, however is instructed to get further forward to provide another taking threat. Therefore, I have applied the same Player Instructions as the M R, with the ‘Get Further Forward’ instruction the only exception, as seen below:
%20Inverted%20Winger%20%E2%80%93%20Support.png "(M L) Inverted Winger – Support")
Deep Lying Forward – Attack:
In Hoeneß’ system, the strikers play a major role in the side’s build-up, as one/both are encouraged to drop deep to receive the ball and link the play. However, Undav is the more likely to do this, whilst the other striker tends to stretch the defence with dangerous, penetrative runs in-behind. Undav, in this system and on the pitch, is a maverick, given the freedom to roam wherever he wants to influence play. However, he is very disciplined defensively and is instructed to hound the opposition and smother them into submission. To encourage these two things, I applied the following instructions, as seen below:
Advanced Forward – Attack:
On the other side, in 23/24, Guirassy would typically do a bit of both. Sometimes, he’d drop deep to receive the ball and lay it off to a team-mate, whilst other times he’d make frightening runs in-behind. This showed, as he accumulated 28 goals in the Bundesliga last season. Most people select the ‘Complete Forward’ role for Guirassy, however, the ‘Complete Forward’ role has the instruction ‘Dribble More’ locked in, and Guirassy would rarely ever dribble with the ball, opting for a one-two or a run in-behind as his main source of individual progression on the pitch. This is shown as he ranks in the 32nd percentile for successful take-ons and the 36th percentile for take-ons attempted. To replicate his role, I found the ‘Advanced Forward’ role with the instructions below was the best replica of his role at Stuttgart in 23/24:
Opposition Instructions
The full list of opposition instructions will be included in your game when you download the tactic, however for those who are copy and pasting on Xbox/PlayStation, here’s the opposition instructions for you:
Results
Champions League – In the Champions League, we were exceptional all things considered, reaching the semi-finals and only losing out to Manchester City. In the group stage, we TOPPED the Group of Death, with PSG, AC Milan and FC Barcelona standing in our way. To reach the semi-finals, we had to bypass Atalanta (4-7) and Juventus (2-8).
Domestic Cups – In domestic cups, we also performed impressively, as we won the DFL-SuperCup (German equivalent of the Community Shield) 1-3 vs Bayer Leverkusen. We also reached the final of the DFB-Pokal, eventually losing 3-2 in the final to Bayern Munich. On the way to the final, we beat RB Leipzig 1-5!!!
Incredible Individual Game Results
On my X profile (@AshtonGgmu), I’ll be posting a bunch of the great results I achieved with this tactic, including a 6-1 win vs Juventus and the 1-5 win vs RB Leipzig!
Conclusion
When Sebastian Hoeneß joined VFB Stuttgart, no-one could’ve foreseen the miracle work he produced for the club, taking them from the Bundesliga relegation Play-Offs to the Champions League. However, he’s achieved it by playing some of the most attractive football in Europe, and has got relatively unknown players playing the best football of their careers. In Football Manager 2024, we have recreated this very exciting, attacking style and I hope you enjoy using it in your saves!
