HSV Coach Polzin: Leave Thioune Alone After Werder Move - Mentor vs. Protégé: A Bundesliga Northern Derby Like No Other
The Bundesliga's Northern Derby will soon feature a personal twist. Merlin Polzin and Daniel Thioune, once mentor and protégé, are now set to face each other as rivals. Their paths first crossed when Polzin was in his early twenties, with Thioune giving him his first coaching opportunity at Hamburger SV.
Daniel Thioune's coaching journey began in the lower leagues before he took charge at Osnabrück. There, he worked with players like Christian Groß. In July 2020, he moved to Hamburger SV in the 2. Bundesliga, but his time ended early after the team failed to secure promotion. A later spell at Fortuna Düsseldorf also came to a premature close in autumn 2025. Now, he leads Werder Bremen.
Polzin, meanwhile, has grown into a coach in his own right. His first break came under Thioune at Hamburger SV, where the older man acted as his mentor. Despite their shared history, the two have not spoken directly since Thioune's appointment at Werder Bremen.
The pair could meet again on April 18, when their teams clash in the Northern Derby. Polzin has publicly welcomed Thioune's new role, though he plans to give his former mentor space. For now, his focus remains on his own work.
The upcoming derby will mark a new chapter in their professional relationship. Both men bring experience from different stages of their careers to the pitch. Fans will watch closely as the former colleagues compete against each other for the first time.
