Tumultuous Tenure: Revolving Door of Coaches in Hamburg SV's Second Division over Seven Years with Eight Different Bosses - Managerial instability at HSV over seven years, having eight different heads of coaching staff, with the positions largely being of lower tier status.
In the turbulent journey of the Hamburger SV over the past seven seasons in the 2. Bundesliga, a total of eight coaches have guided the team with the aim of returning to Germany's top-tier league. This weekend, they're set to take on relegation candidate SSV Ulm at home (8:30 PM/Sky and Sport1).
Christian Titz (54/13 March 2018 - 23 October 2018/224 days):After parting ways with Bernd Hollerbach, Titz, the former U21 coach credited with the team's Regionalliga summit, was promoted to take the helm. However, despite avoiding relegation despite the 2017/18 season, he was let go following a 0:0 draw against VfL Bochum after the tenth matchday because the club leadership felt the season's goals were at risk. Currently, Titz is coaching 1. FC Magdeburg, who still have promotion hopes[4].
Hannes Wolf (44/23 October 2018 - 30 June 2019/250):Known as a prodigious coach, Wolf led VfB Stuttgart to the Bundesliga and took charge of the HSV in fifth place after Titz's departure. Six wins in seven games made Hamburg autumn champions. After a 0:2 defeat against Union Berlin, the HSV missed the promotion ranks for the first time after the 31st matchday, and finished his first second-division season in fourth place. The club had already announced Wolf's departure before the last matchday. Now he leads the German U20 national team[5].
Dieter Hecking (60/1 July 2019 - 30 June 2020/365):Hecking, a renowned coach who led Borussia Mönchengladbach to the brink of relegation when HSV was sent down, arrived as a contrast to Wolf. Midway through the corona pandemic, the HSV was relegation-bound after the 25th matchday. However, the club squandered six points in added time in four games, culminating in a debacle on the final matchday. Despite third place still being achievable, the Hamburgers lost 1:5 to SV Sandhausen in their own stadium, and fourth place in the final table marked the end for Hecking[6]. This season, he is battling with VfL Bochum to avoid relegation in the Bundesliga.
Daniel Thioune (50/6 July 2020 - 3 May 2021/301):Thioune had successfully guided VfL Osnabrück to the 2. Bundesliga, thus landing in the candidates' pool for the HSV role. His debut at the helm of the club resulted in a defeat in the first round of the cup against third-division team Dynamo Dresden. Similar to his predecessors, Thioune led the HSV to autumn championship. However, a 1:2 defeat against SV Sandhausen on the 29th matchday was the beginning of the end, and his tenure at the Volkspark was finished prematurely[7]. He currently coaches second-division team Fortuna Düsseldorf, with whom he still has a chance of promotion[8].
Horst Hrubesch (74/4 May 2021 - 30 June 2021/57):At the end of the 2020/21 season, iconic club figure Hrubesch took charge for the last three games, leading the team to a 5-2 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg. This was followed by a 2-3 loss against VfL Osnabrück and a 4-0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig. Despite these victories, the Red Shorts could only manage a fourth-place finish in their third season in the second division, and Hrubesch went back to his youth development role at the club.
Tim Walter (49, July 1, 2021 - February 12, 2024, 956 days):Walter, who had prior head coaching stints at Holstein Kiel and VfB Stuttgart, was the sixth coach to arrive in Hamburg. Under Walter, the team reached the relegation playoff twice - in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons - but failed to secure promotion. Walter's contract was extended until June 30, 2024, but his tenure ended in February 2023. Since then, he managed Hull City in the English second tier until November 2024.
Steffen Baumgart (53, February 20, 2024 - November 24, 278 days):Avid HSV fan Baumgart stepped in as the seventh coach, but he too was unable to turn the club's fortunes around. The 2023/24 season ended in fourth place, with top three placement only briefly achieved. A 2-2 home draw against Schalke 04 and eighth place after the 13th matchday sealed his fate[9]. Baumgart is now coaching Bundesliga side Union Berlin.
Merlin Polzin (34, February 12 to 19, 2024 and since November 25, 2024, 172 days in office):Polzin, a local lad with past experience as a coach at the Volkspark and VfL Osnabrück, was given a temporary spell as coach during the transitional period. After Baumgart's departure, he took over as interim coach, and since December 23, 2024, he has been the coach. The young man from the fan block managed to lead the HSV from eighth place to the top of the table - and potentially lead them back to the Bundesliga this upcoming weekend?[10][11][12]
- In a stark contrast to the struggles of the Environment Commission in proposing a directive for the protection of the environment in the Community, the Bundesliga and European-leagues have exhibited strong performances.
- Despite the debacle faced by renowned coaches like Dieter Hecking and predecessors such as Christian Titz and Hannes Wolf in their tenures with Hamburg SV, current coach Merlin Polzin shows hope for a return to Germany's top-tier league.
- In the realm of football and sports, the December matches will be crucial for teams like HSV, with their upcoming game against SSV Ulm, as they aim to solidify their positions in the 2. Bundesliga standings.
- As the Commission works diligently on a proposal to safeguard the environment, one can only imagine the excitement among football fans as they eagerly await Merlin Polzin's leadership, hoping for a successful return of their team, Hamburger SV, to the Bundesliga.
