Has been an assistant since 2020
©IMAGO
After four games as interim coach, Merlin Polzin is promoted to head coach at Hamburger SV. The decision comes one day after the successful first half of the season against Fürth (5-0); HSV took second place for one night. Polzin is undefeated so far and scored eight points, but there was criticism for the draws against Darmstadt (2:2) and in Ulm (1:1).
“In the almost four weeks of joint training work, a clear development can be seen that we want to build on and build on in 2025. Merlin and his team enjoy complete trust not only among the team, but also among those responsible for us. These are clear arguments for continuing on the path we have chosen,” said sports director Stefan Kuntz. Polzin added: “I really enjoy working with the team and staff, I’ve always emphasized that. Now it’s time to further deepen the game idea, which is characterized by courageous and determined offensive football and collaborative defending.”
Polzin came to the Elbe in 2020 as Daniel Thioune’s right-hand man from VfL Osnabrück. While Thioune was over again after less than a year, Polzin stayed until today. At the end of November he moved into the front row after HSV parted ways with Steffen Baumgart. Polzin is head coach in the men’s division for the first time. In the meantime, Bruno Labbadia was considered the favorite for the coaching position, while other candidates were the German Danny Röhl (Sheffield Wednesday), the Swiss Raphael Wicky (unemployed), the Swede Henrik Rydström (Malmö) and the Frenchman Jocelyn Gourvennec (unemployed). According to Kicker, Paderborn’s Lukas Kwasniok was also on Hamburg’s list.
After the Fürth game, several HSV professionals positioned themselves for Polzin. “So I can honestly say, from my side, from the team, we want to continue with Merlin,” said Davie Selke and also included Polzin’s employees Loic Favé and Richard Krohn. “They are very meticulous, very, very good in terms of content, and they always take us boys and the team with them.” Other leading players such as Jonas Meffert, captain Sebastian Schonlau, Daniel Elfadli and Miro Muheim also took the same line. “I am firmly convinced that Merlin will remain our coach,” said Muheim. He’s doing a great job. “Of course he knows the boys inside and out. That is certainly an advantage for him,” said Schonlau. “He managed to bring in content, but also looseness, fun and a certain greed.”