Stefan Kuntz is the new hope at HSV and says he is “incredibly happy”. There were also discussions with Magath. Predecessor Jonas Boldt also speaks out on Instagram for the first time – and no longer seems like the cool manager.
Stefan Kuntz has commented for the first time on his move to the position of sports director at second division football club Hamburger SV via Instagram. “I am taking on the position of sports director at HSV with great enthusiasm and full of energy,” wrote the 61-year-old a few hours after the club announced the appointment on Tuesday. “I am incredibly happy to accept this new challenge and become part of such a renowned, traditional club as HSV.”
The former national player and U21 national coach replaces Jonas Boldt. The 42-year-old was informed on Tuesday by supervisory board chairman Michael Papenfuß that the club was parting ways with him early despite his contract until 2025.
Boldt, who has mostly been outwardly rather casual in recent years, also spoke again on Instagram, reviewed his time in Hamburg and thanked everyone “for wonderful encounters, togetherness and many great, committed people, whether in the office, fans and partners or companions”. That is what remains despite the separation. “So I am not only a member for life, but I will always remain connected to HSV and keep my fingers crossed for the future. HSV – no club will ever be like that!”
Boldt came to Hamburg in 2019. During his tenure, promotion to the Bundesliga was missed five times, most recently in fourth place in the season that just ended. In total, HSV failed six times in its attempt to return to the German first floor. Under Boldt, viewer interest also increased again, and the finances were put on a more solid footing in cooperation with the responsible board member Eric Huwer, with whom Boldt is closely connected. This made it possible to reduce the influence of patron Klaus-Michael Kühne.
Stefan Kuntz will be officially introduced on Thursday. One of his first official acts is to decide whether head coach Steffen Baumgart (52), who was hired in February, will be allowed to train the team in the coming season and make another attempt at promotion. He will also meet with sporting director Claus Costa (39) to advance squad planning.
Meeting with Magath
According to media reports, Kuntz convinced the supervisory board with his sporting concept last Thursday. The controllers of Fußball AG are said to have previously met with HSV icon Felix Magath. But Kuntz won the race.
The 1996 European champion has already worked as sporting director for VfL Bochum (2006 to 2008) and was chairman of the board of 1. FC Kaiserslautern for a long time (2008 to 2016). After his successful time as German U21 coach (2016 to 2021) with two European Championship titles, he most recently worked as national coach of Turkey from 2021 to 2023. In December he was also considered a possible candidate to succeed HSV coach Tim Walter (48). But Boldt initially stuck with Walter – and then replaced him with Baumgart in February.
