Held 911 as a sticking point
© Imago
In the seventh attempt, Hamburger SV made the return to the Bundesliga. On the 33rd matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga, the red pants in the local Volksparkstadion defeated SSV Ulm in 1846 with 6: 1 (3: 1). With 59 points, the HSV is four points ahead of SV Elversberg on relegation rank three and is no longer to be displaced from one of the first two table positions. In contrast, promoted Ulm must accept the direct descent after the defeat.
Ludovit Reis (10th minute), Ransford Königsdörffer (42./62.), Davie Selke (45.+4) and Daniel Elfadli (86.) came as a scorer in the game, which is steeped in HSV. SSV captain Philipp Stromf (50th) also hit his own goal. A decisive part in the success of the team of the young head coach Merlin Polzin also had goalkeeper Daniel Heuer-Fernandes (36th), who held a penalty from Ulms Semir Telalovic at the 1-1 set. Tom Gaal (7th) had given the long brave guests in the lead after a strong initial phase.
As referee Max Burda final whistle, the jubilation of the fans in the Volksparkstadion sold out with 57,000 spectators knew no limits. It was the start of a intoxicated night on the Elbe and the Alster. The HSV supporters could cheer for the next time on Sunday: At 11 a.m., the footballers have the chance to return to the Bundesliga with a win against SC Freiburg II.
The whole city was looking for the evening. Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher showed himself on the “X” platform in the jersey with the diamond. HSV professionals such as Heiko Westermann, René Adler, Dennis Aogo or Ivica Olic sent motivational greetings. Bayern Munich’s master coach and former HSV professional Vincent Kompany clapped the fist when he heard the intermediate stand in the Sky interview.
The demand for tickets for the game was so great that Hamburger SV could have filled the Volksparkstadion several times. “The city and all HSVers burn on this game,” said coach Polzin before the game. He should be right. The fans of the Hamburg team made the stadium a magical place far before the kick -off. Thousands of HSV supporters had blue T-shirts or sweaters. The team was enthusiastically received on arrival by bus.
The already loud HSV fans were louder this time – in the anticipation for the end of their suffering. Long before the end of the game, it was “never 2nd league, never anymore” in the arena. After the end, thousands of pendants stormed the field.
Seven years of suffering for the HSV
Six failed attempts, eight coaches and countless setbacks accompanied the second division history of the HSV men. It was only with a Hamburg jung ‘and die-hard fan for the Bundesliga founding member. The 34-year-old Merlin Polzzin succeeded in how his prominent predecessors such as Christian Titz, Hannes Wolf, Dieter Hecking, Daniel Thioune, Tim Walter and Steffen Baumgart failed.
On May 12, 2018, the HSV said goodbye to Borussia Mönchengladbach from the Beletage with a 2-1 win. In the following years, the HSV usually didn’t miss much to return. The club failed four times at the end of the season, in 2022 and 2023 the Hanseates had to surrender in the Hertha BSC relegation and VfB Stuttgart.
The fact that it finally worked has to do with the courage of sports director Stefan Kuntz. The ex-European champion came to Hamburg as the successor to Jonas Boldt a year ago. He promoted the previously unknown head coach Polzin after the separation from Steffen Baumgart in November to an interim and one day before Christmas to the head coach.
Polzin was previously assistant to the former coaches Thioune, Walter and Baumgart. Now he had to prove himself as a boss. Kuntz ‘risk paid off. The Hamburgers did not concede a defeat in the first ten games under Polzin. It was only at the end of the season that it got bumpier when they only scored one point in three games. First doubts came up. But with the 4-0 last week in Darmstadt, the HSV finally waved the street towards the Bundesliga.