Fabian Reese, the 28-year-old striker for VfL Wolfsburg, has been targeted by booing opposition fans since his summer transfer from Hertha BSC. The second-division club's top scorer with three goals and two assists has now spoken to Sportschau about the emotional toll these hostilities take. "It hurts me a lot, it injures me. I take it home with me," Reese said. The Wolfsburg attacker moved for a reported fee of eight million euros from Berlin and subsequently became the target of whistling concerts, most recently in matches against Energie Cottbus and KSC.
Reese attributes the persistent hostility to a group dynamic following his expensive transfer. As a key identification figure and top earner at Hertha BSC, his move to a relegated Bundesliga side was seen as a betrayal by many fans. "I became the scapegoat," explained the native of Kiel. The player, as Energie Cottbus coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz criticised, has done nothing personally to the clubs in question. "What is this? I find it impossible. It's not proper. Why do our fans have to boo this player?" Wollitz said. Reese hopes the booing will subside over time but may have to reconcile himself to it if it continues.
Despite the psychological strain, Fabian Reese is delivering convincing performances on the pitch. With three goals and two assists, he is VfL Wolfsburg's most effective offensive player this season. His goals are a key reason the team under coach Ralph Hasenhüttl currently sits in fourth place in the 2. Bundesliga with eight points. Their record after four matchdays is two wins, two draws, and no defeats. Having scored ten and conceded six goals, Wolfsburg has a positive goal difference of +4. The full league table shows the club is just four points behind leaders Hertha BSC, Reese's former club.
Fabian Reese's situation is not unique in football. Players have repeatedly become targets for former or generally opposition fans after changing clubs. A prominent example is Manuel Neuer, who was booed for years upon returning to Gelsenkirchen after his move from Schalke 04 to FC Bayern Munich. The transfer of Mario Götze and Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern also triggered prolonged hostility. Earlier generations saw similar reactions to players like Toni Polster or Andreas Möller. These cases show that emotional bonds and perceived betrayal leave deep wounds with fans, often expressed in loud protest.
VfL Wolfsburg must maintain its focus on sporting matters. The next match takes the team to the Millerntor Stadium for an away fixture against FC St. Pauli on September 12, 2026. The Hamburg club is currently in 15th place, presenting a demanding but manageable opponent. For Fabian Reese, the atmosphere in the traditional stadium could pose another challenge. Preparation for this and all other fixtures of the season can be followed via the schedule. The team's current form of DWWD (Draw, Win, Win, Draw) provides grounds for optimism to maintain or improve their good league position. The complete squad lineup can be found in VfL Wolfsburg's team roster.
The focus of the coach and team is now entirely on the clash with St. Pauli, where three points in the promotion race are at stake.
