The top young talent from VfL Wolfsburg will represent the club in this year’s Florida Cup, with a number of players who have featured on the international stage for Germany and other international clubs. Leading the group is experienced Brazilian midfielder Josue, formerly the club’s captain, but players like U.S. U19 international McKinze Gaines and German U20 international Amara Conde will be looking to impress as they try to find a way to the club’s first team. 

NEED TO KNOW

Head Coach: Valérien Ismaël
League: Bundesliga
Schedule: Jan.  8 – vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies, Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Jan. 12 – vs. Esporte Clube Bahia, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

CLUB HISTORY

VfL Wolfsburg was founded in 1945, as the club grew out of a multi-sports club for Volkswagen workers seven years after the city’s establishment in Northwest Germany. The club competed in the lower divisions in its early history, but earned promotion to the Bundesliga ahead of the 1997-98 season, and the club has been ever-present in the division since.

The side claimed its first, and currently only, Bundesliga championship in 2009 when the attacking duo of Grafite (28) and Edin Dzeko (26) each notched 20-goal seasons, a first for the league. Wolfsburg also finished second in 2014-15, but this season sits 13th in the standings at the Winterpause and will be looking for a solid turnaround when the season resumes.