Hamburg goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes celebrates with the fans after the pitch invasion. © APA/afp / RONNY HARTMANN

Finally back in the Bundesliga: HSV promoted

Hamburger SV's long period of suffering is over: On Saturday evening, the traditional club made its return to the German Bundesliga perfect.

10 May 2025

From: dpa/det

After the pitch invasion, the Hamburger SV promotion heroes were almost lost in the mass of fans. Everyone wanted a selfie with goalkeeper Daniel Heuer-Fernandes, Miro Muheim, Ludovit Reis, or Robert Glatzel. The jubilation over the end of HSV's long period of suffering and their return to the Bundesliga knew no bounds. Even defender Mario Vuskovic, who had been suspended for doping, was on the pitch at the Volksparkstadion. "I'm happy – only HSV," he shouted into a Sky broadcaster microphone.

Almost exactly seven years to the day after being relegated to the second division, the storied club returned to the top flight. Following a 6-1 (3-1) victory against SSV Ulm on the final matchday of the second division, HSV can no longer be dislodged from one of the top two spots. The defeat confirms Ulm's early relegation as the second team, following Jahn Regensburg.

HSV is back in the Bundesliga. © ANSA / CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

"Indescribable. It's been building up for a damn long time. We're back!" said head coach Merlin Polzin, whose contract was automatically extended by a year due to the promotion, as he confirmed to Sky. "In the end, it's the result of incredibly hard work, by our coaching staff, by the team, by the entire club, who simply showed the same direction in all the games. A very special moment."

Seven years of suffering

Six failed attempts, eight coaches, and countless setbacks have accompanied the HSV men's second-division history. It took a Hamburg native and die-hard fan to finally bring the Bundesliga's founding member to the top. 34-year-old Merlin Polzin achieved what his prominent predecessors, such as Christian Titz, Hannes Wolf, Dieter Hecking, Daniel Thioune, Tim Walter, and Steffen Baumgart, had failed to do since 2018.

Davie Selke is one of the most influential figures at HSV. © APA/afp / RONNY HARTMANN

On May 12, 2018, HSV bid farewell to the top flight with a 2-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. In the following years, HSV was usually close to returning. The club finished fourth four times, and in 2022 and 2023, they were defeated in the relegation playoffs by Hertha BSC and VfB Stuttgart, respectively.

Kuntz's risk with Polzin pays off

The fact that it finally worked out is also due to the courage of sporting director Stefan Kuntz. The former European champion came to Hamburg a year ago as Jonas Boldt's successor. Following the departure of Steffen Baumgart in November, he promoted the previously unknown head coach Polzin to interim and then to head coach one day before Christmas.

Hamburg coach Merlin Polzin. © APA/afp / RONNY HARTMANN

Polzin had previously served as assistant to former coaches Thioune, Walter, and Baumgart. Now he had to prove himself as the boss. Kuntz's risk paid off. Hamburg remained undefeated in their first ten games under Polzin.

Things only got bumpier towards the end of the season, when they picked up only one point in three consecutive matches. The first doubts began to arise. But with last week's 4-0 win in Darmstadt, HSV finally turned the corner toward the Bundesliga.