Born in Bochum, Wolf spent his playing career as a striker in German minor leagues, including a stint with the second team of 1.

[10][11] After failing to take HSV back to the Bundesliga, Wolf was sacked by Hamburg, effectively ending his tenure at the club after the last matchday of 2018–19 2.

[13] Genk finished seventh, with the season curtailed with eleven weeks to go due to the 2020 COVID outbreak.

[14] On 23 March 2021, Wolf took over the Bundesliga team from Bayer Leverkusen on an interim basis, succeeding Peter Bosz and was given a contract until the end of the 2020–21 season.

Wolf guided Leverkusen to a finishing position of sixth in table, securing qualification for the UEFA Europa League after eight games in charge.

After Bayer Leverkusen had signed a new head coach for the 2021–22 season in the form of Swiss Gerardo Seoane,[16] Wolf returned to the DFB as planned in July 2021, taking over the U19 team.