“Nothing is impossible in football”
HSV makes coaching decision
December 6, 2024 – 3:46 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Steffen Baumgart is history at HSV, Merlin Polzin has taken over as interim coach for him. The new coach will carry out this task for at least three more games.
Merlin Polzin will remain interim coach of Hamburger SV until the winter break. CEO Stefan Kuntz said at a press conference on Friday that the 34-year-old enjoyed the trust of the club management. Kuntz emphasized that he made this decision for Polzin out of “full conviction.” The long-time assistant coach will also look after the team on the sidelines on Sunday against Darmstadt 98 (from 1.30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online).
Polzin had already taken over responsibility for the troubled northern club last Sunday after separating from Steffen Baumgart. In the 3-1 win against Karlsruher SC, HSV celebrated its first success after five winless competitive games – and jumped to second place in the 2nd Bundesliga table.
For Polzin, this liberation by the “Rothosen” has now apparently opened the door for a longer-term commitment to the HSV coaching bench. At least one thing is certain: the coach will have a real chance to prove himself in the coming weeks, which, according to Kuntz, “doesn’t just depend on the result at the weekend.” After the game against Darmstadt, HSV will play games against Ulm and Fürth before Christmas.
Who will coach the team in the second half of the season remains unclear. “There was neither an acceptance nor a rejection from any candidate,” said Kuntz. But he also made it unmistakably clear that Polzin could ultimately be awarded the head coach position. “Nothing is impossible in football,” said the HSV boss.
Ex-HSV professional Raphael Wicky, who is currently without a club, and Henrik Rydström, currently coach at Malmö FF, are still considered external candidates.