Stefan Kuntz is leaving HSV. © AFP / INA FASSBENDER

Shock at HSV: Kuntz unexpectedly resigns

Bundesliga football club Hamburger SV and sporting director Stefan Kuntz have surprisingly agreed to terminate the contract.

02 January 2026

From: det

The 63-year-old had asked the supervisory board of the AG for an immediate termination of his employment on December 31, 2025, for personal family reasons after the Christmas holidays, the club announced.

“Sometimes there are more important things than football. That’s the case for me now. I don’t want to say anything more about it and ask that this be respected,” the former professional is quoted as saying in the statement. “I thank HSV for a fantastic year and a half. I wish the teams and the entire office staff all the best for the future.”

Stefan Kuntz is resigning with immediate effect. © AFP / OZAN KOSE

The news is likely to cause concern among many fans. Recently, media coverage has focused primarily on the extension of his contract, which expires next summer. There had been hardly any outward indications that Kuntz would no longer be in his position as sporting director when the club's training resumes on Friday.

For the time being, the club intends to continue operating with the existing staff. "We have held many discussions in recent days and, with board member Eric Huwer and a strong second management team, we are well positioned for the challenges ahead," said supervisory board chairman Michael Papenfuß. Papenfuß added that, starting with the start of training today, the focus will be on the second half of the Bundesliga season and, of course, on the current transfer window.

Kuntz took over the club from his predecessor Jonas Boldt in May 2024. In the following season, his decision to retain the then inexperienced coach Merlin Polzin played a major role in the club's promotion back to the Bundesliga in 2025 after seven years in the second division.