The VfL Bochum had just finished its most successful season with a fifth place and qualification to the UEFA Cup when Maltritz joined the club. But the club was eliminated in the first round of the 2004–05 UEFA Cup by Standard Liège and even relegated to the 2. Bundesliga at the end of the season. Maltritz stayed loyal to his club and helped Bochum to promote directly back to the highest level. In the 2006–07 season VfL Bochum finished at the eighth place, which was the third bestBundesliga result in club history.