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{{Short description|German football player and manager (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bruno Labbadia
| image = Bruno Labbadia – Tag der Legenden 2016 02.jpg
| caption = Labbadia in 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|2|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Darmstadt]], West Germany
| height = 1.78 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1972–1976
| youthclubs1 = FSV Schneppenhausen
| youthyears2 = 1977–1983
| youthclubs2 = SV Weiterstadt
| youthyears3 = 1983–1984
| youthclubs3 = [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
| years1 = 1984–1987
| clubs1 = [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
| caps1 = 105
| goals1 = 44
| years2 = 1987–1988
| clubs2 = [[Hamburger SV]]
| caps2 = 41
| goals2 = 11
| years3 = 1988–1991
| clubs3 = [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]
| caps3 = 67
| goals3 = 20
| years4 = 1991–1994
| clubs4 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| caps4 = 82
| goals4 = 28
| years5 = 1994–1995
| clubs5 = [[1. FC Köln]]
| caps5 = 41
| goals5 = 15
| years6 = 1995–1998
| clubs6 = [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| caps6 = 63
| goals6 = 18
| years7 = 1998–2001
| clubs7 = [[Arminia Bielefeld]]
| caps7 = 98
| goals7 = 50
| years8 = 2001–2003
| clubs8 = [[Karlsruher SC]]
| caps8 = 60
| goals8 = 18
| totalcaps = 557
| totalgoals = 204
| nationalyears1 = 1987
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|West Germany U-21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 1992–1995
| nationalteam2 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]]
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2003–2006
| managerclubs1 = [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
| manageryears2 = 2007–2008
| managerclubs2 = [[SpVgg Greuther Fürth|Greuther Fürth]]
| manageryears3 = 2008–2009
| managerclubs3 = [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
| manageryears4 = 2009–2010
| managerclubs4 = [[Hamburger SV]]
| manageryears5 = 2010–2013
| managerclubs5 = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
| manageryears6 = 2015–2016
| managerclubs6 = [[Hamburger SV]]
| manageryears7 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs7 = [[VfL Wolfsburg]]
| manageryears8 = 2020–2021
| managerclubs8 = [[Hertha BSC]]
| manageryears9 = 2022–2023
| managerclubs9 = [[VfB Stuttgart]]
}}
'''Bruno Labbadia''' ({{IPA|it|labbaˈdiːa|pron}}; born 8 February 1966) is a German football manager and former professional player who played as a striker. During his playing career, he achieved notable success, winning the [[DFB-Pokal]] in the 1989–90 season with [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] and the [[Bundesliga]] title in 1993–94 with [[FC Bayern Munich]]. Labbadia also earned two caps for the German national team, representing his country at the international level.

As a manager, Labbadia has coached several Bundesliga clubs, most recently [[VfB Stuttgart]]. He was considered for the role of head coach of the [[Nigeria national football team]], but ultimately declined the position. Labbadia is well-regarded for his ability to stabilize teams facing relegation challenges, making him a prominent figure in German football management.<ref name="Nigeria">{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/paukenschlag-labbadia-sagt-nigeria-ab-1047939/artikel#omrss | title = Paukenschlag: Labbadia sagt Nigeria ab | language = de | website = [[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] | date = 30 August 2024 | access-date = 30 August 2024}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Labbadia was born in Darmstadt, West Germany, to Italian parents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Theweleit |first=Daniel |date=24 December 2008 |title=Wir nehmen den Kindern alles ab |url=http://www.taz.de/1/leben/koepfe/artikel/1/wir-nehmen-den-kindern-alles-ab/ |access-date=4 July 2009 |work=[[die Tageszeitung]] |language=de}}</ref> His family roots trace back to [[Lenola, Lazio|Lenola]], a town in the Lazio region of Italy.<ref>{{cite web |last=Màzzaro |first=Tony |date=24 December 2008 |title=Prima soddisfazione di Bruno Labbadia col suo nuovo Amburgo |url=http://www.swr.de/international/it/-/id=233350/nid=233350/did=5158152/1vj8mkf/index.html |access-date=8 March 2013 |publisher=[[Südwestrundfunk]] |language=it}}</ref> Labbadia's parents moved to Germany as ''[[Gastarbeiter]]'' (guest workers) and settled in Schneppenhausen, near [[Darmstadt]] in the state of [[Hesse]]. He grew up in a football-loving household alongside his eight siblings. Initially, the family lived on a rented farm before relocating to [[Weiterstadt]] when Labbadia was ten years old.<ref name="spiegelonline">{{Cite web |date=7 October 1991 |title=Geil aufs Gewinnen |url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13491133.html |access-date=9 May 2015 |work=[[Der Spiegel]] |language=de}}</ref>

==Playing career==
Labbadia made his debut for hometown [[2. Bundesliga]] side Darmstadt 98 in 1984–85, scoring 9 goals in 33 games. Labbadia recorded 103 goals in 328 Bundesliga games across his career, including 50 goals for [[Arminia Bielefeld]] and 44 goals for his hometown club [[Darmstadt 98]], as well as scoring 101 goals in 229 Bundesliga 2 games. He netted a total of 229 goals across all competitions in his career.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/labbadia-intl.html | title = Bruno Labbadia – Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 1 October 2015 | access-date = 9 October 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> having played for some of Germany's top [[Bundesliga]] clubs. He had two caps for the [[Germany national football team]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/labbadia-intl.html | title = Bruno Labbadia – International Appearances | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 1 October 2015 | access-date = 9 October 2015 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref> His most successful season was probably the 1998–99 season, where he scored 29 goals for Arminia Bielefeld. Other notable seasons include 1986–87, where he scored 21 goals for Darmstadt 98, as well as 15 goal campaigns in 1987–88 and 1994–95 with top flight clubs [[Hamburger SV]] and [[1. FC Köln]]. 

In the 1989–90 season he scored twice in the final as his club [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] beat Werder Bremen 3–2 in the [[1990 DFB-Pokal final|final]] of the DFB-Pokal.

He also had 14 goals in his 1992–93 campaign with [[Bayern Munich]] and had 10 goals the next season where he was limited to only 23 appearances. His final season was in 2002–03 with [[2. Bundesliga]] side [[Karlsruher SC]] where he netted 13 goals in 28 appearances.

==Managerial career==
===Early career===
Labbadia was hired as the manager of [[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]] on 8 May 2003.<ref name=darmstadtjob>{{cite news|title=Labbadia neuer Coach bei den "Lilien"|url=https://www.kicker.de/labbadia-neuer-coach-bei-den-lilien-282822/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=8 May 2003|language=de}}</ref> His first match was a 2–1 win against [[TSG Wörsdorf]].<ref name="2003–04 season">{{cite web|title=SV Darmstadt 98|url=https://www.kicker.de/sv-darmstadt-98/spielplan/oberliga-hessen/2003-04|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=24 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> In his first season, Darmstadt won promotion to the Regionalliga.<ref name="2003–04 league table">{{cite web|title=Oberliga Hessen – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/amateure/oberliga-hessen/2003-04/34/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402062750/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/amateure/oberliga-hessen/2003-04/34/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2016|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=24 February 2017|language=de}}</ref> Darmstadt started the [[2004–05 Regionalliga|2004–05 season]] with a 2–1 loss to [[1. FSV Mainz 05 II|Mainz 05 II]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SV Darmstadt 98|url=https://www.kicker.de/sv-darmstadt-98/spielplan|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=17 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Darmstadt finished the 2004–05 season in fifth place.<ref name="2004–05 league table">{{cite web|title=Regionalliga Süd (2000–2008) – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/regionalliga-sued-37/2004-05/34/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015020011/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/regionalliga-sued-37/2004-05/34/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2012|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=17 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Darmstadt started the [[2005–06 Regionalliga|2005–06 season]] with a 2–1 win against [[VfR Aalen]].<ref name="2005–06 season">{{cite web|title=SV Darmstadt 98|url=https://www.kicker.de/sv-darmstadt-98/spielplan|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=17 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Darmstadt finished the season in fifth place.<ref name="2005–06 league table">{{cite web|title=Regionalliga Süd (2000–2008) – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/regionalliga-sued-37/2005-06/34/0/spieltag.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015062300/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/regionalliga/rlligen/regionalliga-sued-37/2005-06/34/0/spieltag.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2012|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=17 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia left on 30 June 2006.<ref name=darmstadtsacking>{{cite news|title=Lettieri übernimmt die "Lilien"|url=https://www.kicker.de/lettieri-uebernimmt-die-lilien-330414/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=3 April 2006|language=de}}</ref> His final match was a 6–0 against [[SpVgg Bayreuth]].<ref name="2005–06 season"/>

Labbadia was hired as Greuther Fürth's manager on 19 March 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Labbadia: "Eine Bauchentscheidung"|url=https://www.kicker.de/labbadia_eine-bauchentscheidung-363044/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=19 March 2007|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia officially took over on 1 July 2007 when pre-season officially started.<ref name=officialstartgreuther>{{cite news|title=Timms Abschied steht fest|url=https://www.kicker.de/timms-abschied-steht-fest-363501/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=28 March 2007|language=de}}</ref> His first match was a 3–1 win against Darmstadt in the German Cup.<ref name="SpVgg Greuther Fürth - Termine">{{cite web|title=SpVgg Greuther Fürth|url=https://www.kicker.de/spvgg-greuther-fuerth/spielplan/2-bundesliga/2007-08|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=17 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Greuther Fürth finished the season in sixth place.<ref name="2007–08 league table">{{cite web|title=2. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/2-bundesliga/spieltag/2007-08/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=17 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> He left the club on 26 May 2008 when he officially joined [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]].<ref name=leverkusenjob>{{cite news|title=Labbadia macht das Rennen|url=https://www.kicker.de/labbadia-macht-das-rennen-379019/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=26 May 2008|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia finished with a record of 15 wins, 10 draws, and 11 losses.<ref name="Greuther Fürth record">{{cite web|title=SpVgg Greuther Fürth|url=https://www.kicker.de/spvgg-greuther-fuerth/team-trainer/bundesliga/2012-13|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=23 February 2015|language=de}}</ref>

===Bayer Leverkusen===
[[File:Bruno Labbadia.jpg|thumb|upright|Labbadia with Leverkusen in 2009]]

Labbadia was hired by Bayer Leverkusen on 26 May 2008.<ref name=leverkusenjob/> His first match was a 3–2 win against [[Rot-Weiß Oberhausen]] in the German Cup.<ref name="Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Termine">{{cite web|title=Bayer 04 Leverkusen|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayer-04-leverkusen/spielplan/bundesliga/2008-09|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Bayer leverkusen finished the season in ninth place.<ref name="2008–09 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2008-09/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> After the season, Labaddia left Bayer Leverkusen and joined [[Hamburger SV]]. His final match was a 0–1 loss to [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] in the [[2009 DFB-Pokal Final|2009 German Cup Final]].<ref name="Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Termine"/> Labbadia finished with a record of 19 wins, seven draws, and 14 losses.<ref name="Bayer Leverkusen record">{{cite web|title=Bayer 04 Leverkusen|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayer-04-leverkusen/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|publisher=kicker|access-date=16 January 2014|language=de}}</ref>

===Hamburger SV===
Labaddia took over as Hamburg manager on 5 June 2009.<ref name=hamburgjob>{{cite news|title=Labbadia unterschreibt bis 2012|url=https://www.kicker.de/labbadia-unterschreibt-bis-2012-509733/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=5 June 2009|language=de}}</ref> His first match was a 4–0 win against [[Randers FC]] in the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League qualifying phase and play-off round#Third qualifying round#Matches|third qualifying round]] of the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]].<ref name="Hamburger SV - Termine">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/spielplan/bundesliga/2009-10|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia was dismissed on 26 April 2010, just three days before the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League knockout phase|Europa League]] semi-final second-leg tie against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].<ref name="ZDF">{{cite web |url=http://fussball.zdf.de/ZDFsport/inhalt/11/0,5676,8067403,00.html|title=Bruno Labbadia entlassen |publisher=[[ZDF]] |date=26 April 2010 |access-date=26 April 2010 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429152103/http://fussball.zdf.de/ZDFsport/inhalt/11/0%2C5676%2C8067403%2C00.html?dr=1 |archive-date=29 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="Kicker">{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/moniz-ist-200-prozent-hsv-524164/artikel|title=Der HSV setzt auf Moniz|publisher= [[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker.de]] | date=26 April 2010|access-date=26 April 2010 | language = de}}</ref><ref name=hamburgsacking>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8644181.stm|title=Hamburg axe coach Bruno Labbadia|date=26 April 2010|work=[[BBC Sport]]|access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> His final match was a 5–1 loss to [[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim|1899 Hoffenheim]].<ref name="Hamburger SV - Termine"/> Hamburg were in seventh place in the [[2009–10 Bundesliga|2009–10 Bundesliga table]] when they dismissed Labbadia.<ref name="2009–10 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2009-10/32/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia finished with a record of 22 wins, 16 draws, and 13 losses.<ref name="Hamburger SV - Trainerhistorie">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|publisher=kicker|access-date=16 January 2014|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130234135/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/1-bundesliga/2013-14/hamburger-sv-12/trainer.html|archive-date=30 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===VfB Stuttgart===
[[File:Bruno labbadia.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Labbadia managing VfB Stuttgart]]

On 12 December 2010 Labbadia became the new manager of [[VfB Stuttgart]].<ref name=stuttgartjob>{{cite news|title=Nun soll's Labbadia richten|url=https://www.kicker.de/nun-solls-labbadia-richten-546061/artikel|access-date=1 February 2013|newspaper=kicker|date=12 December 2010|language=de}}</ref> His first match was a 5–1 win against [[Odense Boldklub|Odense]] in the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]].<ref name="2010–11 season">{{cite web|title=VfB Stuttgart|url=https://www.kicker.de/vfb-stuttgart/spielplan/bundesliga/2010-11|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> In his first season with the club, he managed to save the club that was staring relegation in the face after the disastrous reigns of his two predecessors, [[Christian Gross]] and [[Jens Keller]], ended in the last quarter of 2010. VfB Stuttgart finished in 12th place in the [[2010–11 Bundesliga]],<ref name="2010–11 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2010-11/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> and would then qualify for the [[2012–13 UEFA Europa League]] by virtue of its sixth position in the [[2011–12 Bundesliga]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/26/stuttgart-bruno-labbadia-bundesliga-sack|title=Stuttgart's Bruno Labbadia wins the Bundesliga sack race … in August|date=26 August 2013|work=The Guardian | access-date = 27 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="2011–12 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2011-12/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref>

Stuttgart started the [[2012–13 VfB Stuttgart season|2012–13 season]] with a 5–0 win against [[SV Falkensee-Finkenkrug]].<ref name="2012–13 season">{{cite web|title=VfB Stuttgart|url=https://www.kicker.de/vfb-stuttgart/spielplan/bundesliga/2012-13|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> On 30 January 2013, Labbadia signed a contract extension with Stuttgart, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0205-0ea57503d241-890d8057e987-1000--labbadia-signs-on-at-growing-stuttgart/|title=Labbadia signs on at 'growing' Stuttgart|date=30 January 2013|access-date=30 January 2013|publisher=UEFA}}</ref> VfB Stuttgart lost the [[2012–13 DFB-Pokal]] final to [[FC Bayern Munich]], but qualified for the [[2013–14 UEFA Europa League]] by virtue of the fact that Bayern Munich had also won the [[2012–13 Bundesliga]] title.<ref name="2012–13 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2012-13/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref>

In the morning of 26 August 2013, Labbadia was relieved of his duties with immediate effect. His club had lost the opening three Bundesliga matches and was in second last position in the Bundesliga table of the [[2013–14 Bundesliga|2013–14 season]].<ref name="2013–14 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2013-14/3/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Prior to his sacking, Stuttgart had lost the first leg of the playoff round of the [[2013–14 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]].<ref name="2013–14 season">{{cite web|title=VfB Stuttgart|url=https://www.kicker.de/vfb-stuttgart/spielplan/bundesliga/2013-14|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=19 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> During the press conference held in the afternoon on the same day, club president Bernd Wahler said, "Bruno Labbadia has done good work at VfB over the past three years but we want to provide fresh impetus with this change."<ref name=stuttgartsacking>{{cite news|url=http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2013/labbadia/page/2541-1-1-.html|title=Bruno Labbadia released from duties|date=26 August 2013|access-date=26 August 2013|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106131249/http://www.vfb.de/en/aktuell/meldungen/news/2013/labbadia/page/2541-1-1-.html|archive-date=6 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/025a-0ea8ea99810c-995dfa467c20-1000--schneider-replaces-labbadia-at-struggling-stuttgart/ |title=Schneider replaces Labbadia at struggling Stuttgart|date=26 August 2013 |publisher=UEFA | access-date = 27 August 2013}}</ref> Labbadia finished with a record of 50 wins, 24 draws, and 45 losses.<ref name="Stuttgart record">{{cite web|title=VfB Stuttgart|url=https://www.kicker.de/vfb-stuttgart/team-trainer/bundesliga/2013-14|publisher=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |access-date=16 January 2014|language=de}}</ref>

===Return to Hamburg===
Labaddia returned to [[Hamburger SV]] for a second spell on 15 April 2015.<ref name='Prototyp Labbadia: "Ich habe Bock darauf"'>{{cite news|title=Prototyp Labbadia: "Ich habe Bock darauf"|url=https://www.kicker.de/prototyp-labbadia_ich-habe-bock-darauf-625061/artikel|access-date=15 April 2015|publisher=kicker|date=15 April 2015|ref="|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia won his first match on 25 April 2015 against [[FC Augsburg]].<ref name="Ein Sieg für den Glauben">{{cite news|last1=Rommel|first1=Stefan|title=Ein Sieg für den Glauben|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/hsv-schlaegt-augsburg-ein-sieg-fuer-den-glauben-1.2451167|access-date=25 April 2015|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=25 April 2015|location=Hamburg|language=de}}</ref><ref name="2014–15 season">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/spielplan/bundesliga/2014-15|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> This was Hamburg's first win since February 2015.<ref name="Ein Sieg für den Glauben"/> Hamburg finished the 2014–15 season in the relegation playoff spot.<ref name="2014–15 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2014-15/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=1 June 2015|language=de}}</ref> In the first leg of the relegation playoff, on 28 May 2015, Hamburg and [[Karlsruher SC]] finished in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ilicevic hält Hamburgs Hoffnungen am Leben|url=https://www.kicker.de/hsv-gegen-karlsruhe-2015-bundesliga-relegation-2826712/analyse|access-date=1 June 2015|publisher=kicker|date=28 May 2015|language=de}}</ref> In the second leg, on 1 June 2015, Hamburg won 2–1 in extra time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hamburg verhindert den Abstieg|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/bundesliga-hamburg-verhindert-den-abstieg-1.2503305|access-date=1 June 2015|work=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=1 June 2015|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia managed to keep Hamburg in the [[Bundesliga]] with a 10th-placed finish in the [[2015–16 Bundesliga]].<ref name="2015–16 league table">{{cite web|title=1. Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2015-16/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> However, Hamburg were knocked out of the German Cup in the first round during the 2015–16 season.<ref name="2015–16 season">{{cite web|title=Hamburger SV|url=https://www.kicker.de/hamburger-sv/spielplan/bundesliga/2015-16|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=18 March 2017|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia and his two assistants were sacked on 25 September 2016 after Hamburg had dropped into 16th position following their 0–1 Bundesliga defeat to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] on the previous day, which was their fourth Bundesliga defeat in a row, having started the [[2016–17 Bundesliga]] campaign with a draw at home to [[FC Ingolstadt 04|FC Ingolstadt]].<ref name="Hamburg sacks Labbadia again">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfcasia.com/hamburg-sv/story/2958823/hamburg-dismiss-bruno-labbadia-after-18-months-in-charge|title=Hamburg dismiss Bruno Labbadia after 18 months in charge|publisher=ESPN FC Asia|date=25 September 2016}}</ref>

===VfL Wolfsburg===
On 20 February 2018, Labbadia was hired by [[VfL Wolfsburg]], replacing [[Martin Schmidt (football manager)|Martin Schmidt]], who had stepped down the day before.<ref name="Wolfsburg start">{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/labbadia-uebernimmt-beim-vfl-wolfsburg-717752/artikel|title=Labbadia übernimmt beim VfL Wolfsburg|publisher=[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]|date=20 February 2018|access-date=20 February 2018|language=de}}</ref> His first match was a 1–1 draw against [[1. FSV Mainz 05]] on 23 February 2018.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muto antwortet Brekalo bei Labbadias Debüt|url=https://www.kicker.de/mainz-gegen-wolfsburg-2018-bundesliga-3827801/analyse|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=12 May 2018|language=de}}</ref> Wolfsburg finished the [[2017–18 VfL Wolfsburg season|2017–18 season]] in 16th place, which qualified Wolfsburg for the relegation playoff against [[Holstein Kiel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bundesliga – Spieltag / Tabelle|url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/spieltag/2017-18/34/0|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=12 May 2018|language=de}}</ref> Labbadia left Wolfsburg after the [[2018–19 VfL Wolfsburg season|2018–19 season]], which the team finished in sixth place, qualifying for the [[2019–20 UEFA Europa League]].

===Hertha BSC===
Labbadia was appointed as the new manager of [[Hertha BSC]] on 9 April 2020.<ref name="Hertha BSC hiring">{{Cite web|url=https://www.herthabsc.de/de/intern/labbadia-trainerwechsel-1920/page/17331--17-17-.html|title=Bruno Labbadia neuer Cheftrainer bei Hertha BSC|date=9 April 2020|website=herthabsc.de|access-date=9 April 2020|language=de|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411020601/https://www.herthabsc.de/de/intern/labbadia-trainerwechsel-1920/page/17331--17-17-.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He coached the last nine matches in the [[2019–20 Hertha BSC season|2019–20 season]], finishing with a record of four wins, one draw, and four losses.<ref name="Hertha BSC Trainer">{{cite web |title=Hertha BSC Trainer |url=https://www.kicker.de/hertha-bsc/team-trainer/bundesliga/2020-21 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=kicker |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> Hertha BSC finished in 10th place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bundesliga Tabelle |url=https://www.kicker.de/bundesliga/tabelle/2019-20 |website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] |publisher=kicker |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> He was sacked on 24 January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.herthabsc.de/en/teams/labbadia-preetz-depart/page/1620--4-4-.html|title=Hertha BSC part ways with Michael Preetz and Bruno Labbadia|date=24 January 2021|website=herthabsc.de|publisher=[[Hertha BSC]]|access-date=24 January 2021|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124114511/https://www.herthabsc.de/en/teams/labbadia-preetz-depart/page/1620--4-4-.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Return to Stuttgart===
Labbadia returned to Stuttgart in December 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleeson |first=Mark |date=27 August 2024 |title=German Bruno Labbadia named as new Nigeria coach |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2024-08-27-german-bruno-labbadia-named-as-new-nigeria-coach/ |website= Times Live }}</ref> In April 2023, he was sacked after the team dropped to the last place.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.vfb.de/en/vfb/latest/news/professionals/2223/sebastian-hoeness-uebernimmt-als-cheftrainer/|title=Sebastian Hoeneß replaces Bruno Labbadia|date=3 April 2023|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|language=de|access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Labbadia holds dual German and Italian citizenship, reflecting his Italian heritage. Outside of football, he is known for his involvement in charitable activities and his commitment to mentoring young players.<ref name="hamburgerabendblatt">{{Cite web |last1=Schiller |first1=Kai |last2=Wenig |first2=Peter |date=27 August 2016 |title=Bruno Labbadia: "Als Kind war ich der Spaghettifresser" |url=http://www.abendblatt.de/sport/fussball/hsv/article208137697/Bruno-Labbadia-Als-Kind-war-ich-der-Spaghettifresser.html |access-date=17 May 2019 |work=Hamburger Abendblatt |publisher=Zeitungsgruppe Hamburg GmbH |language=de}}</ref> Labbadia is fluent in both German and Italian and maintains close ties to his family roots. Labbadia communicated in Italian with his parents, while he spoke German with his siblings.<ref name="hamburgerabendblatt" /> He acquired his secondary school leaving certificate and trained as an insurance salesman.<ref name="spiegelonline" /> When he was 18 years old, he gave up Italian citizenship<ref name="hamburgerabendblatt" /> and became a German citizen,<ref name="spiegelonline" /> since in Germany only two foreigners were eligible to play in one team at the time, and so he gave place to a non-German in the squad of SV Darmstadt 98.<ref name="hamburgerabendblatt" /> He was also associated with the German U21 national team.<ref name="spiegelonline" />

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]||[[1984–85 SV Darmstadt 98 season|1984–85]]||rowspan="3"|[[2. Bundesliga]]||32||9||1||0||Colspan="2"|—||33||9
|-
|[[1985–86 SV Darmstadt 98 season|1985–86]]||38||17||1||1||Colspan="2"|—||39||18
|-
|[[1986–87 SV Darmstadt 98 season|1986–87]]||35||18||4||3||Colspan="2"|—||39||21
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!105!!44!!6!!4!!0!!0!!111!!48
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Hamburger SV]]||[[1987–88 Hamburger SV season|1987–88]]||rowspan="2"|[[Bundesliga]]||31||11||2||1||4||3||37||15
|-
|[[1988–89 Hamburger SV season|1988–89]]||10||0||3||1 ||Colspan="2"|—||13||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!41!!11!!5!!2!!4!!3!!50!!16
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[1. FC Kaiserslautern]]||[[1988–89 1. FC Kaiserslautern season|1988–89]]||rowspan="3"|Bundesliga||17||5||1||0||Colspan="2"|—||18||5
|-
|[[1989–90 1. FC Kaiserslautern season|1989–90]]||28||6||6||3||Colspan="2"|—||34||9
|-
|[[1990–91 1. FC Kaiserslautern season|1990–91]]||22||9||1||0||0||0||23||9
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!67!!20!!8!!3!!0!!0!!75!!23
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]||[[1991–92 FC Bayern Munich season|1991–92]]||rowspan="3"|Bundesliga||30||10||1||0||4||1||35||11
|-
|[[1992–93 FC Bayern Munich season|1992–93]]||32||11||2||3||Colspan="2"|—||34||14
|-
|[[1993–94 FC Bayern Munich season|1993–94]]||20||7||2||3||1||0||23||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!82!!28!!5!!6!!5!!1!!92!!35
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[1. FC Köln]]||[[1994–95 1. FC Köln season|1994–95]]||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga||33||14||5||1||Colspan="2"|— ||38||15
|-
|[[1995–96 1. FC Köln season|1995–96]]||8||1||1||0||Colspan="2"|— ||9||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!41!!15!!6!!1!!0!!0!!47!!16
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]||[[1995–96 SV Werder Bremen season|1995–96]]||rowspan="3"|Bundesliga||13||4||0||0||0||0||13||4
|-
|[[1996–97 SV Werder Bremen season|1996–97]]||23||8||2||1||Colspan="2"|— ||25||9
|-
|[[1997–98 SV Werder Bremen season|1997–98]]||27||6||1||1||Colspan="2"|—||28||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!63!!18!!3!!2!!0!!0!!66!!20
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Arminia Bielefeld]]||[[1998–99 Arminia Bielefeld season|1998–99]]||2. Bundesliga||33||28||3||1||Colspan="2"|—||36||29
|-
|[[1999–2000 Arminia Bielefeld season|1999–2000]]||Bundesliga||34||11||3||0||Colspan="2"|—||37||11
|-
|[[2000–01 Arminia Bielefeld season|2000–01]]||2. Bundesliga||31||11||2||1||Colspan="2"|—||33||12
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!98!!50!!8!!2!!0!!0!!106!!52
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Karlsruher SC]]||[[2001–02 Karlsruher SC season|2001–02]]||rowspan="2"|2. Bundesliga||33||6||1||0||Colspan="2"|—||34||6
|-
|[[2002–03 Karlsruher SC season|2002–03]]||27||12||1||1||Colspan="2"|—||28||13
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!60!!18!!2!!1!!0!!0!!62!!19
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total!!557!!204!!43!!21!!9!!4!!609!!229
|}

===Managerial record===
{{updated|matches played on 1 April 2023}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"		
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure	
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record	
!rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-	
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}	
|-
||[[SV Darmstadt 98|Darmstadt 98]]
|align=left|1 July 2003<ref name=darmstadtjob/>
|align=left|30 June 2006<ref name=darmstadtsacking/>
{{WDL|102|60|16|26}}
|<ref name="2003–04 league table"/><ref name="2004–05 league table"/><ref name="2005–06 league table"/>
|-
|[[SpVgg Greuther Fürth|Greuther Fürth]]
|align=left|1 July 2007<ref name=officialstartgreuther/>
|align=left|26 May 2008<ref name=leverkusenjob/>
{{WDL|36|15|10|11}}
|<ref name="Greuther Fürth record"/>
|-
|[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]]
|align=left|26 May 2008<ref name=leverkusenjob/>
|align=left|5 June 2009<ref name=hamburgjob/>
{{WDL|40|19|7|14}}
|<ref name="Bayer Leverkusen record"/>
|-
|[[Hamburger SV]]
|align=left|5 June 2009<ref name=hamburgjob/>
|align=left|26 April 2010<ref name=hamburgsacking/>
{{WDL|51|22|16|13}}
|<ref name="Hamburger SV - Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
|[[VfB Stuttgart]]
|align=left|13 December 2010<ref name=stuttgartjob/>
|align=left|26 August 2013<ref name=stuttgartsacking/>
{{WDL|119|50|24|45}}
|<ref name="Stuttgart record"/>
|-
|[[Hamburger SV]]
|align=left|15 April 2015<ref name='Prototyp Labbadia: "Ich habe Bock darauf"'/>
|align=left|25 September 2016<ref name="Hamburg sacks Labbadia again"/>
{{WDL|49|16|11|22}}
|<ref name="Hamburger SV - Trainerhistorie"/>
|-
|[[VfL Wolfsburg]]
|align=left|20 February 2018<ref name="Wolfsburg start"/>
|align=left|30 June 2019<ref name="Wolfsburg record">{{cite web|title=VfL Wolfsburg|url=https://www.kicker.de/vfl-wolfsburg/team-trainer/bundesliga/2017-18|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=12 May 2018|language=de}}</ref>
{{WDL|50|22|10|18}}
|<ref name="Wolfsburg record"/>
|-
|[[Hertha BSC]]
|align=left|9 April 2020<ref name="Hertha BSC hiring"/>
|align=left|24 January 2021
{{WDL|28|8|6|14}}
|<ref name="Hertha BSC Trainer"/>
|-
|VfB Stuttgart
|align=left|5 December 2022
|align=left|3 April 2023
{{WDL|12|2|3|7}}
|<ref name="Stuttgart record"/>
|-
! colspan="3"| Total
{{WDLtot|487|214|103|170}}
!—
|}

==Honours==

=== As a Player ===
'''FC Kaiserslautern''' 

[[1989–90 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal: 1989–90]]

'''Bayern Munich'''

[[Bundesliga]]: [[1993–94 Bundesliga|1993–94]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1993-941016.html |title=Bayern München 1993–94 |publisher=bdfutbol.com |access-date=10 November 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Sports links}}

{{Navboxes
|title=Bruno Labbadia – Managerial positions
|list1=
{{SV Darmstadt 98 managers}}
{{SpVgg Greuther Fürth managers}}
{{Bayer 04 Leverkusen managers}}
{{Hamburger SV managers}}
{{VfB Stuttgart managers}}
{{VfL Wolfsburg managers}}
{{Hertha BSC managers}}
}}
{{1992–93 kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season}}
{{2. Bundesliga top scorers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Labbadia, Bruno}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Darmstadt]]
[[Category:German sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:German football managers]]
[[Category:SpVgg Greuther Fürth managers]]
[[Category:Bayer 04 Leverkusen managers]]
[[Category:Hamburger SV players]]
[[Category:Hamburger SV managers]]
[[Category:VfL Wolfsburg managers]]
[[Category:VfB Stuttgart managers]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC managers]]
[[Category:1. FC Kaiserslautern players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:1. FC Köln players]]
[[Category:SV Werder Bremen players]]
[[Category:Arminia Bielefeld players]]
[[Category:Karlsruher SC players]]
[[Category:SV Darmstadt 98 players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga managers]]
[[Category:SV Darmstadt 98 managers]]
[[Category:West German men's footballers]]