Hamburg have announced that interim head coach Merlin Polzin has now been made their permanent head coach following the club’s improvement in form.
Since Polzin took interim charge on the 24th of November following the sacking of Steffen Baumgart, Polzin has led the team to four unbeaten games with wins against Karlsruhe and Greuther Fürth as well as draws with Ulm and Darmstadt. Those results see them currently sitting third in the 2.Bundesliga three points off of first place 1.FC Köln who they face when the second division resumes after the winter break.
Polzin is a Hamburg fan, having followed the club home and away before becoming involved with the club in a professional capacity. On being given the permanent role, Polzin said:
“I really enjoy working with the team and the staff, I’ve always said that. Now it’s time to further develop the game concept, which is characterized by courageous and determined attacking football and collective defending,”
Loic Fave and Richard Krohn will remain as Polzin’s assistant coaches.
Things could have been very different for Hamburg as it was heavily rumoured that Bruno Labbadia would return to the club for a third time to try and lead them back into the Bundesliga, but doubts began to arise about his reappointment which then pushed Polzin to become the favourite.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
