VfB Stuttgart face a penalty crisis ahead of their Europa League opener against Celta Vigo. Coach Sebastian Hoeness considers seeking advice from Harry Kane as the team battles a troubling 50% penalty success rate since 2023.
Reigning German Cup winner VfB Stuttgart faces an unusual and pressing challenge as they prepare for their 2025-26 UEFA Europa League opener against Spanish side Celta Vigo. Despite strong performances in other areas, the club has developed a troubling reputation for struggling with penalty kicks, an issue that coach Sebastian Hoeness openly admitted requires urgent attention.
Speaking ahead of Thursday evening’s clash, Hoeness, who has been leading the team since the summer of 2023, acknowledged that Stuttgart’s penalty statistics have been far below par. “We have to start thinking about how to solve the problem,” the 43-year-old coach said, hinting that he might even consider specialized training or advice from Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, widely regarded as one of the world’s most reliable penalty takers.
A Lingering Weakness
Since Hoeness took charge, Stuttgart’s penalty success rate in the Bundesliga has stagnated at just 50%. In the 2024 campaign alone, the team converted only 10 out of 20 attempts, a stark contrast to the Bundesliga’s overall success rate of nearly 80%. The shortcomings have become an unwanted talking point for the club and its fans.
The issue became glaring once again during Stuttgart’s most recent Bundesliga outing against St. Pauli. German international Angelo Stiller missed a poorly executed penalty, later calling his effort “embarrassing.” His words reflected both personal disappointment and the broader concerns surrounding the team’s approach to spot-kicks.
While Stuttgart scored only three of their eight penalties last season, the fact that Bundesliga averages continue to hover much higher makes their situation all the more troubling. “It is more than just obvious that we desperately need improvement, as the topic follows us like a dark shadow,” Hoeness admitted, acknowledging the pressure the team now faces.
Historic Comparisons and Cup Pressure
The penalty struggles have not only haunted Stuttgart in league matches but also spilled into cup competitions. In the first round of the 2025-26 German Cup, Stuttgart barely survived an upset, needing an 8-7 penalty shootout win against second-division side Braunschweig. That narrow escape revived memories of Stuttgart’s legendary penalty takers from the past, who once brought consistency and confidence in high-pressure moments.
Two decades ago, Bulgarian international Krassimir Balakov was known for his reliable record, converting 26 of his 32 attempts with an 81% success rate. More recently, Serhou Guirassy impressed between 2022 and 2024, scoring five of his six penalties. Serbia’s Zdravko Kuzmanovic also set a high standard between 2009 and 2013, netting all eight of his attempts.
Comparisons to these past figures underline just how far the current squad is from achieving stability from the penalty spot.
Seeking Solutions
Stiller himself admitted he is not currently among the penalty-taking candidates and instead encouraged Bosnian-Herzegovinian striker Ermedin Demirovic to take up the responsibility. Hoeness has also emphasized the need to establish a clear hierarchy among penalty takers to eliminate hesitation and confusion during matches.
“Penalties are not an immediate concern, but it’s a matter of practice,” Hoeness explained. “We need a clear ranking and routine to ensure confidence in these situations.”
The Stuttgart coach believes that reliable penalties are not just about natural ability but also about discipline and repetition. That is why he pointed to Harry Kane, England’s captain and Bayern Munich striker, as a model example. Kane’s consistency from the spot is unmatched in recent Bundesliga history, having scored 17 consecutive penalties in his first 17 attempts since joining Bayern. His remarkable 88% career conversion rate makes him a benchmark that Stuttgart’s players aspire to reach.
Looking Ahead
As Stuttgart prepares for their Europa League clash with Celta Vigo, the penalty dilemma looms large. A victory in Europe’s second-tier competition could set the tone for the rest of the season, but missed penalties at critical moments could undermine their progress.
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For now, Hoeness insists the team must treat penalties as an essential skill, not an afterthought. With the season just beginning, Stuttgart has time to work on building confidence from the spot. But unless the problem is solved, their Europa League dreams—and potentially their Bundesliga campaign—could be jeopardized by a single misplaced kick.
