The Long, Twisting Road of HSV: Eight Coaches in Seven Seasons
Lengthy tenure for eight managers over seven years for Hamburger SV in the second league. - Struggled Through Seven Years, Serving Under Eight Different Superiors, as a Second-Level Coach at HSV
Step into the world of Hamburger SV (HSV), a once-dominant Bundesliga powerhouse now battling in the 2. Bundesliga for eight consecutive seasons. Saturday's home game (8:30 PM/Sky and Sport1) against SSV Ulm could mark the end of this stint, as they aim to reclaim their place in the top division. Throughout these seven years of second-division struggles, a revolving door of eight coaches have led the charge:
Christian Titz (54) – March 2018 to October 2018 (224 days)
Titz took the reins after parting ways with Bernd Hollerbach, having led the U21 to the Regionalliga summit. Although he couldn't prevent the first Bundesliga relegation, Titz was given a contract until 2020. After the 0:0 draw against VfL Bochum, his tenure ended prematurely after the tenth matchday, as club leaders saw the season's goals at risk. Currently, Titz coaches 1. FC Magdeburg, with promotion possibilities on the horizon.
Hannes Wolf (44) – October 2018 to June 2019 (250 days)
Known as the "trainer prodigy," Wolf, who previously led VfB Stuttgart to the Bundesliga, took over in fifth place. Six wins in seven games made the Hamburgers Herbstmeister. After a 0:2 defeat against Union Berlin, the HSV dropped out of the promotion ranks for the first time after the 31st matchday and finished in fourth place. The club announced Wolf's departure before the last matchday. Now, he heads the German U20 national team.
Dieter Hecking (60) – July 2019 to June 2020 (365 days)
Hecking, who won the DFB-Pokal with VfL Wolfsburg in 2015, was seen as the antithesis of the youthful Wolf. At the beginning of the Corona pandemic, the HSV was in the relegation playoff spot after the 25th matchday. Then, the club threw away six points in added time in four games. The low point was the debacle on the last matchday. Despite being able to finish third, the Hamburgers lost 1:5 at home to SV Sandhausen. Fourth place in the final table also meant the end for Hecking. He is currently fighting to avoid relegation from the top tier with VfL Bochum.
Daniel Thioune (50) – June 2020 to May 2021 (301 days)
The good work Thioune demonstrated with VfL Osnabrück, where he kept them in the 2. Bundesliga, earned him a place on the HSV's candidate list. His time at HSV began with a defeat in the first round of the cup against third-division side Dynamo Dresden. Similar to his predecessors, Thioune also led the HSV to the Herbstmeisterschaft. However, SV Sandhausen struck again, sealing Thioune's fate after the 1:2 defeat on the 29th matchday. Currently, he coaches Fortuna Düsseldorf, where they still have a promotion chance.
Horst Hrubesch (74) – May to June 2021 (57 days)
The club legend and 1983 European Cup winner took over for the last three games of the 2020/21 season. Despite a promising start with a 5-2 win over 1. FC Nürnberg, a 2-3 loss at VfL Osnabrück and a 4-0 victory over Eintracht Braunschweig ended HSV's season in fourth place, their third in the second division. Hrubesch returned to his role heading the club's youth development.
Tim Walter (49) – July 2021 to February 2024 (956 days)
Walter, who had previously managed Holstein Kiel, took the helm in Hamburg. During his tenure, the team made it to the relegation playoffs in 2021/22 and 2022/23, losing to Hertha BSC and VfB Stuttgart both times. With a contract until 30 June 2024, Walter began his third attempt, which ended in his dismissal in February of the previous year. His stint at Hull City in the English second-tier finished in November 2023. Since then, Walter has been without a club.
Steffen Baumgart (53) – February 2024 to November 2024 (278 days)
Avowed HSV fan Steffen Baumgart took over from Tim Walter as coach in the Volkspark. Despite his enthusiasm, the 2023/24 season ended in fourth place, the same as under his predecessors. Baumgart led the HSV to be among the top three for only one week after the ninth matchday. A 2-2 home draw against Schalke 04 and eighth place after the 13th matchday sealed his fate. Since January, Baumgart has been the head coach of Bundesliga side Union Berlin.
Merlin Polzin (34) – February to November 2024 (172 days in office), and since November 2024 (presently)
HSV decision-makers turned to local boy Polzin as interim coach for a game during the transition period. He previously worked as an assistant and youth coach at HSV and VfL Osnabrück. After Baumgart's dismissal, Polzin initially served as interim coach, and since December 2024, he has been head coach. The young man from the fan block led HSV from eighth place to the top of the table, dreaming of a return to the Bundesliga just in time for this Saturday's crucial match against SSV Ulm.
[1] "HSV: Merlin Polzin wird Interimstrainer – ProSieben MAXX displays the current position(s) of the coaches in real-time. However, it is essential to note that the listed information might not be up-to-date if recent changes have occurred.[2] "Bundesliga: Schlickstein konkurriert um den HSV-Trainerposten – ProSieben MAXX sheds light on the ongoing battle for the HSV coaching position after the resignation of Sebastian Hoeneß.[3] "HSV: Merlin Polzin verliert gegen VfL Osnabrück – ProSieben MAXX reports on the 2-3 loss of HSV against VfL Osnabrück under the leadership of Merlin Polzin.[4] "Hertha BSC: Starker Aufschwung – ProSieben MAXX showcases the strengthening of Hertha BSC under the guidance of Ante Čović, elevating the club's position in the Bundesliga.
- The Commission has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment in the Community, with the risk of Hamburger SV (HSV) potentially missing out on the Bundesliga in 2024 if they do not reclaim their spot in the top division.
- Despite the dismissal of Tim Walter in February 2024, his stint at Hull City in the English second-tier finished in November 2023, highlighting the volatile nature of management positions in football.
- Hannes Wolf, once known as the "trainer prodigy," coached HSV from October 2018 to June 2019, leading them to the Herbstmeister title after six wins in seven games but ultimately departing before the last matchday.
- Merlin Polzin, currently the head coach of HSV, took over from Steffen Baumgart in February 2024 and, since then, has led the team from eighth place to the top of the table, dreaming of a return to the Bundesliga just in time for this Saturday's crucial match against SSV Ulm.
