Soccer-Veh's unassuming Stuttgart sweep all before them

By Kevin Fylan

HAMBURG, May 19 (Reuters) - VfB Stuttgart's first Bundesliga title in 15 years is proof that the high-spending 'Galactico' model is not the only way to bring success and spectacle.

Saturday's 2-1 victory over Energie Cottbus made it eight successive wins during the run-in and took them to the title with 70 points from 34 matches, two points clear of Schalke 04 in second place and 10 ahead of outgoing champions Bayern Munich in fourth.

They now stand on the brink of a domestic double, with the Cup final to come against Nuremberg on May 26 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

This season's frankly unexpected success can be traced back to the sacking of the high-profile Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni midway through last season, a move that signalled a shift in philosophy at the club from the wealthy southern city.

The appointment of Armin Veh, a man for whom the word unassuming could have been coined, was unpopular with many fans and it took guts to extend his contract after a second half of the season that brought only minor improvements.

Manager Horst Heldt deserves great credit for that, as well as a series of moves in the transfer market that transformed the team.

Out went the expensive, ineffective Jon Dahl Tomasson and Jesper Gronkjaer, and in came a bunch of talented, hardworking professionals who quickly gelled with a great group of young players coming through.

Mexicans Pavel Pardo and Ricardo Osorio, signed to little fanfare in July, have made vital contributions in midfield and defence, while Brazilian Antonio da Silva, a bargain buy from Mainz, has excelled as a creative midfielder.