So, he has a double interest in Saturday's pre-season match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (3pm UK)!
What can you tell us about Hoffenheim?'
Seb: "As recently as the turn of the century, they were actually playing amateur football, all the way down in the fifth tier of German football. Their subsequent rise through the divisions was dramatic — they reached the Bundesliga within eight years — but has always been controversial in German football, having depended upon the wealth of long-term benefactor Dietmar Hopp, a software billionaire born in the region. For a long time, Hopp’s historic support of the club granted them an exemption from the 50+1 rule, which mandates that majority control of German clubs remain with supporters. Hoffenheim do conform to the rule in the present day, but their exemption enabled their rocket-powered ascent and won them few neutral admirers. English fans will know some of the names attached to that modern era. Former German national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann got his first senior job at Hoffenheim and was head coach between 2016 and 2019. Going back further, Ralf Rangnick took charge of the club in 2006, leading them to back-to-back promotions in his first two seasons, taking them from the third tier to the Bundesliga for the first time in their history. Actually, if you dig all the way back to 2000 and the club’s days in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg, there’s a very famous name: Hansi Flick. The current Barcelona head coach was 35-years-old when he caught a break with Hoffenheim, ultimately staying for five years."
We played Hoffenheim in MD7 on our way to winning the UEFA Europa League in 2024/25 - they were 15th in the Bundesliga that season - and fifth last season! How did that happen?
Seb: "Nobody really saw it coming. After the 2024/25 season, it was still in doubt whether head coach Christian Ilzer would even keep his job. Ultimately, he did and off the back of a summer during which the club recruited extremely well, they then came very close to qualifying for the Champions League. It was remarkable. The signings were key. Former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal has proven a great success. Wouter Burger, previously an unheralded midfielder with Stoke City, was arguably the find of that transfer window. And Albian Hajdari, a bargain from Lugano in August 2025, has become one of the more coveted centre-backs in the Bundesliga. Kosovan midfielder Leon Avdullahu was another bargain. In addition to the form of incumbent players, including winger Bazoumana Toure, who has since joined Newcastle, and veteran forward Andrej Kramaric, formerly of Leicester City, it helped provide the basis for the club’s highest finish in eight years."
What can you tell us about Christian Ilzer?
Seb: "Now 48, the Austrian joined from Sturm Graz in November 2024. Contextually, it was a difficult time. Pellegrino Matarazzo had just been sacked as head coach and Hoffenheim were in the midst of executive restructuring. Andreas Schicker, the sporting director, had also arrived from Sturm Graz just a few weeks before, so the whole club was tilting on its axis and the resulting instability lasted the rest of the season. Ilzer struggled to gain command of the squad he inherited or give his new team any distinct personality. They finished three points above the relegation playoff in 15th place and, truthfully, were fortunate that the three sides beneath them were so weak - but what a difference in the second year. Hoffenheim emerged for 2025/26 as perhaps the best-conditioned team in the league, capable of out-running and out-working almost any domestic opponent. Their 4-2-3-1 formation was also equipped with the technical quality, through Toure, but also gifted playmaker-forward Fisnik Asllani, to be a challenge in all sorts of ways. They may have run out of steam before the end of the season, losing six of their final 10 games, but it was still a tremendous body of work from Ilzer."
Who should we look out for?
Seb: "Hoffenheim have had another really interesting summer. Rather than the bargain hunting of a year ago, they have made a succession of statement additions. Wide forward Patrick Wimmer has been plundered from relegated Wolfsburg. He’ll bring established Bundesliga quality. Winger Adam Daghim is one of quickest players in Germany. In Belgian midfielder Nathan De Cat and Dutch talent Mats Rots, they have also — arguably — signed players from above their station. In addition, while Asllani very nearly moved to RB Leipzig a week ago, his transfer collapsed and he remains part of the most talented squad Hoffenheim have had for a long, long time."