HSV makes coaching decision – Merlin Polzin stays

After Aus by Steffen Baumgart

HSV makes coaching decision

Hamburger SV has been looking for a coach for several weeks. It is now clear who will be in the coaching bench in January.

Merlin Polzin is promoted from interim coach to head coach. This was confirmed by Hamburger SV on Sunday; the “Kicker” and the “Hamburger Abendblatt” had previously reported, among others. Under Polzin, HSV had two wins and two draws in four games and moved closer to the promotion places in the 2nd Bundesliga.

On Saturday, HSV won 5-0 against Greuther Fürth, which once again gave Polzin a strong argument. Several players also spoke publicly in support of the former assistant coach, who took over after Steffen Baumgart left.

Double goalscorer Davie Selke, for example, said: “Well, I can honestly say, from my side, from the team’s point of view, we want to continue with Merlin.” In general, Selke praised the entire coaching team: “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 expressed their support for Polzin. “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’s certainly an advantage for him,” said Schonlau. “He managed to bring in content, but also looseness, fun and a certain greed.”

And so the players’ wish will probably be fulfilled. For Polzin, this is a childhood dream come true. The 34-year-old has been a HSV fan for many years and initially worked as a youth coach before his path took him to Osnabrück. From there he moved back to the HSV coaching bench in the summer of 2020, working as an assistant under Daniel Thioune, Tim Walter and later Steffen Baumgart. Now he becomes the boss himself.