Stefan Kuntz is the new hope at HSV and says he is “incredibly happy”. There have also been talks with Magath. His predecessor Jonas Boldt has spoken out for the first time on Instagram – and no longer seems like the cool manager.
Stefan Kuntz commented for the first time on Instagram about his move to the position of sports director at the second division soccer team Hamburger SV. “I am taking up 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 personnel on Tuesday. “I am incredibly happy to be taking on this new challenge and becoming part of such a renowned, traditional club like 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, the club failed to advance to the Bundesliga five times, most recently in the season just ended, finishing fourth. Overall, HSV failed six times in its attempt to return to the German top flight. However, under Boldt, spectator interest increased once again, and finances were put on a more solid footing in cooperation with the board member responsible for this, Eric Huwer, with whom Boldt is closely associated. This reduced 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, can also train the team in the coming season and make another attempt at promotion. He will also sit down with sports 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. Before that, the football company’s controllers are said to have met with HSV icon Felix Magath. But Kuntz won the race.
The 1996 European champion 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 a German U21 coach (2016 to 2021) with two European Championship titles, he most recently worked as Turkey’s national coach 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.
