A highly memorable 2023/24 campaign concluded with VfB Stuttgart finishing behind champions Bayer Leverkusen as Bundesliga runners-up, completing the return of one of Germany's oldest clubs to the elite of the game following a rollercoaster ride over the years.

In previous seasons, Stuttgart had been through plenty of last-day drama. However, as distinct from their relegation-saving feats of past campaigns, the denoument to 2023/24 saw the Swabians snatch second spot from giants Bayern Munich on a final day of delerious celebration at the MHPArena.

A return to the top table of European football and the UEFA Champions League seems highly fitting for a side led by young, exciting coach Sebastian Hoeneß and one that entertained with the likes of their top scorer Serhou Guirassy as well as a string of new Germany internationals who look set to take this summer's UEFA Euro 2024 by storm.   

Watch: The best of Germany's new Stuttgart contingent

Indeed, with many of the cast and crew of the recently completed season appearing ready to stay put, the three-time Bundesliga winners - who were last crowned champions of Germany in 2007 - look well placed to continue their dramatic rise. 

Formed in 1893, Stuttgart have long been the large southern state of Baden-Württemberg’s biggest club. They enjoyed plenty of success even before the inaugural Bundesliga campaign in 1963/64 – which they were a part of – winning two German championships and two DFB Cups.

In the 20th century, they missed just two top-flight campaigns, while they clinched their maiden Bundesliga title in 1991/92, propelled to glory by the likes of Fritz Walter (not that one), Matthias Sammer and Guido Buchwald.

Soon after, Die Magische Dreieck (the Magic Triangle) of Giovane Élber, Krassimir Balakov and Fredi Bobic lit up German football, and in 2006/07, another Meisterschale made its way to Swabia, this time thanks to the exploits of coach Armin Veh and star centre-forwards Cacau and Mario Gómez.

VfB Stuttgart won their second Bundesliga title in 2006/07. - Pressefoto Rudel/Robin Rudel via www.imago-images.de

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That triumph came during a spell of nine consecutive top-half finishes, while they twice reached the Champions League last 16 between 2000 and 2010. Soon, though, competing against Europe’s best would be a distant memory, with 2009/10 the last time Stuttgart played in the continent’s premier club competition, until now.

Over the next few years, the decline was steady. Even though his successor Markus Babbel secured a top-four finish in 2008/09, Veh’s exit in 2008 was arguably the turning point. Babbel lasted just 18 months in the hot seat before Christian Gross, Bruno Labbadia and Huub Stevens all struggled to compete with Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Germany’s other leading outfits during the early 2010s.

Finally, after 12th, 15th and 14th-placed finishes in three consecutive campaigns, what had been on the horizon for a number of terms finally came to be as Stuttgart were relegated to Bundesliga 2 in 2015/16 under the guise of Jürgen Kramny. Despite scoring 50 goals, they conceded a huge 75, the joint-third highest Bundesliga total of the 21st century.

VfB's stint in the second tier didn’t last long, though, as they bounced straight back, finishing top of the league. While they initially looked out of their depth back amongst the elite, Tayfun Korkut’s appointment steered them well clear of safety and into the heady heights of seventh place, with the season ending in a 4-1 victory over champions Bayern at the Allianz Arena.

Nevertheless, that resurgence proved to be a false dawn. They were soon fighting for their Bundesliga lives once again, and were unable to stave off a relegation play-off spot at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Watch: Stuttgart suffered play-off defeat to Union Berlin in 2019

On paper, they should have still had enough to secure their top-flight status – opponents Union Berlin had never previously played in the Bundesliga, while only one of the previous nine Bundesliga 2 representatives had prevailed in the two-legged clash.

Unfortunately for Die Schwaben, however, the reality was quite different. A 2-2 draw at the Mercedes-Benz Arena gave Die Eisernen a slight edge heading back to the capital, and a goalless encounter was enough to see Stuttgart drop down for the second time in four seasons on away goals. Once again, though, only 12 months were spent outside the leading division, albeit only after Pellegrino Matarazzo was appointed as head coach after a disappointing start to the campaign.

Back amongst the crème de la crème of German football in 2020/21, Stuttgart delighted supporters and neutrals with their attacking style of play, with Silas and Sasa Kalajdžić impressing in particular.

In a repeat of their previous return to the Bundesliga, however, the positivity didn’t last. Silas ruptured his cruciate ligament in March 2021 and received a suspension due to irregularities in his personal papers, both of which had long-lasting effects on his form, while only a last-gasp Wataru Endō goal against Cologne on the final day of the 2021/22 campaign saw Stuttgart avoid another relegation play-off.

Watch: Stuttgart score last-gasp winner to beat the drop against Cologne

During the first half of the following term, even finishing as high as 16th looked a stretch with questions raised about the club's direction and transfer policy.

There had been another big change in the upper hierarchy in 2019 when Sven Mislintat was hired as sporting director. He had played a key role in Jürgen Klopp’s Dortmund revolution and was the man behind the signings of Robert Lewandowski, Shinji Kagawa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembélé and many more.

His record at Stuttgart until his exit three years later was mixed – several of his signings missed the mark. Having said that, when Hoeneß was employed as coach in April 2023 with the unenviable task of keeping the team in the Bundesliga as they sat bottom of the table, the ex-Hoffenheim boss relied on several of Mislintat’s recruits to give his team a fighting chance.

Guirassy immediately flourished under Hoeneß’s tutelage, while young Frenchman Enzo Millot, defender Josha Vagnoman and midfielder Endō all played key roles as Stuttgart picked up 13 points from their last eight matches to secure 16th. On this occasion, they had far too much quality for Bundesliga 2’s third-placed outfit Hamburg, who they defeated 6-1 on aggregate.

Watch: Stuttgart prove too much for HSV

Regular relegation battles were major causes for concern, but even during Matarazzo’s final 16 months, there had been signs that Stuttgart had the potential to deliver better results. Of the 20 games they lost during that period, only three were by more than two goals, and nine were by a solitary strike.

They were often involved in tight encounters and were rarely played off the park, yet it was only when Hoeneß arrived that the extra belief and confidence was restored. His arrival provided a huge boost when it was needed most, and given the way his players hauled themselves away from another descent, there was hope that the 2023/24 term would offer something different.

Of course, no-one could have expected Stuttgart to be just as convincing, though. They kicked off the Bundesliga term with a 5-0 hammering of Bochum and, while a 5-1 loss to RB Leipzig followed immediately after, they were back to winning ways courtesy of another five-goal performance against Freiburg on Matchday 3. By Matchday 9, they had won seven matches, with only an irresistible Bayer Leverkusen stopping them from sitting at the summit. As the season progressed, it became apparent that VfB were enjoying one of the most consistent campaigns in their history.

Guirassy’s incredible goalscoring form stole the headlines, but almost every player in Hoeneß’s squad was worthy of praise. Goalkeeper Alexander Nübel displayed the ability that convinced Bayern to sign him from Schalke in 2020 while the custodian also agreed terms on a new two-year loan extension at the MHPArena. Captain Waldemar Anton led by example and, along with Maximilian Mittelstädt who provided solidity at left-back, all three were called up to Germany's provisional Euro 2024 squad.

Loanee Deniz Undav and Chris Führich joined the trio in Julian Nagelsmann's provisional set-up for a home European Championship after equally impressive, respective campaigns. 

Undav and Guirassy combined to score 46 goals this season (18 + 28), making them the most dangerous duo in VfB's history. Guirassy's haul, meanwhile, represented a new Stuttgart club record in the Bundesliga and saw the Guinea international finish second behind Harry Kane (36) in the race for the Torjägerkanone (Undav finishing fourth).

Watch: All of Guirassy's Bundesliga goals in 2023/24

And all of this achieved after a summer upheaval that saw Florian Müller, Borna Sosa, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Endō all depart, leaving Hoeneß with numerous holes to fill. The 42-year-old revelled in the challenge, and the tactician even found time to sign a contract extension at the club until 30 June 2027 last March.

Responding to every obstacle with endeavour and energy, Stuttgart are more than deserving of their time in the sun. They picked up many notable victories, like those against Bayern (3-1) and away to Dortmund (1-0) along the way to collecting 23 wins and finishing with 73 points, both new club records - even surpassing totals when they won the title. Finally, it seems Stuttgart have a side befitting their name and heritage, and a fantastic prize for their displays comes in the shape of Champions League football next term.

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