Hannes Wolf: New York City FC star "wants to return to Europe" after a "proper reset" in MLS

It feels like Hannes Wolf has overcome the most challenging part of his career. At New York City FC, the 25-year-old playmaker is once again a key player after complicated years at Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig. In an exclusive interview with Transfermarkt.de, the Austrian opened up about his transfer to Major League Soccer, his first season with New York City FC, and a possible return to Europe. 

It has indeed been a good season for Wolf at NYCFC. The Austrian has managed five goals and six assists in 40 games across all competitions this season, increasing his market value from €2m to €3m. What has changed for Wolf in MLS? “I have changed,” Wolf said. “When you move from the Bundesliga to MLS at my age, many people in Germany will ask: ‘Why are you doing this?’ After a difficult time in Gladbach, where many things did not go as I and others imagined, I wanted meaningful change and work in peace and quiet. I needed a proper reset.”

Under head coach Nick Cushing, New York City FC provided exactly that. A new environment where Wolf could play and, despite being in a major city like New York, be away from the spotlight. “New York and the club were perfect for my situation,” Wolf said. “I knew I needed games, games, games—and that over a long period without any injuries.” That part was key for Wolf, who had struggled with injuries at both Leipzig and then Gladbach. With those injuries in mind, Wolf began to optimize his training routine ahead of this season. “I put everything to the test at the start of the year, and the adjustments we made have worked, which indicates that we came to the right conclusions. I feel fit; I have played 40 games without a single injury.” 

Wolf also “spoke to Bundesliga clubs” – The goal is “to return to Europe”

The decision to join NYCFC wasn’t always clear-cut. “I also talked to some Bundesliga clubs where there would have been more pressure and the threat to be maybe relegated to the second division,” Wolf said. “I knew I was returning from a meniscus injury and hadn’t played in six months. In the worst-case scenario, I would have played two games and once again had problems. In New York, the situation was different. I could work in peace and reach my best possible potential here.” 

That doesn’t mean that Wolf has been coasting in MLS this season—quite the contrary. On Saturday, Wolf and NYCFC will face FC Cincinnati in the third and decisive match of the MLS Cup Playoff first round. That match might determine whether this season will be a success after a mediocre sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference regular season. “Over the last few weeks, in the decisive phase of the season, we didn’t always perform consistently and not always played at the highest level,” Wolf said. “That makes me angry. It must be our goal to march through the playoffs. That’s not easy, but we have the potential and quality. But perhaps we also have to put it in perspective. Last year, we didn’t reach the playoffs at all, and this year, we showed our full potential in the second leg against Cincinnati, underlining that we achieved big wins. That development is decisive.” 

What about Wolf’s development at NYCFC, and is there a future beyond this season? “I wanted to play in MLS, return to fitness, and rediscover my joy,” Wolf said, who is still under contract until 2027. “Without any thoughts on what could happen in one or two years. But I have realized that I have high aspirations, and I still think I can achieve many things in my career. As a result, I want to return to Europe one day. I want to play in a top league and play against the very best again. My dream remains the Champions League—I won’t let that be taken away from my sense of reality. Because I firmly believe it will be possible again at some point in my career. I work for that daily, and having that goal gives me energy.”

You can read the full interview in German on Transfermarkt.de!