HSV: Kuntz on Staying After Promotion Failure

HSV recently scored their first away goal of the season in Leipzig, but remain winless away from home, meaning the pressure in their own stadium has now increased again. Guests on Saturday (3:30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker): VfL Wolfsburg. Most recently, Hamburg achieved two wins in a row in front of their own fans, and the Bundesliga newcomers last won three times in a row at home in the 2nd league two years ago. A win would have an even more important side effect: Northern rivals Wolfsburg would then be six points ahead. Club boss Stefan Kuntz knows how reassuring that would be for the team to be able to acclimate to the league in peace.

Ask: Mr. Kuntz, how proud is HSV of its double Bundesliga promotion with the men and women, for which it was honored with the “Sport Bild” award?

Stefan Kuntz: Together with FC St. Pauli, the city of Hamburg even has three first division football teams. This is something special. Our double promotion was an outstanding story and of course makes us proud. It also underlines once again: We are clearly committed to women’s football and don’t just talk.

Ask: That means?

Kuntz: We are continuing to professionalize the structures and training conditions, and the women have also moved to the Volksparkstadion as a venue. For us, it was only logical that the men’s and women’s teams were able to celebrate their success together with over 80,000 fans in the city center on May 19th and were honored for this by the First Mayor of Hamburg, Peter Tschentscher. A nice and exuberant party. And then there was the joint award with the “Sport Bild” award.

Ask: A promotion hero for the men was coach Merlin Polzin, who you promoted from assistant to head coach at the end of December 2024. How great was the pressure that the project could go wrong?

Kuntz: Because of all my experience, I am not afraid of pressure and failure. If things hadn’t worked out with Merlin and the ascension, then I probably would have left – or would have had to go. In our job you can’t sugarcoat anything, I’m aware of that, otherwise I would have had to stay on TV as an expert to be fair. At the end of the decision-making phase, I also listened to my gut feeling about making Merlin head coach – and it was the right and very good decision.

Ask: How exactly did you find out in the four weeks that Polzin was the right coach for the promotion mission?

Kuntz: During that time, I looked at everything about how he now works in the role of boss: from how he deals with the team, through the preparation for the game, to his speeches in the dressing room. I talked to him a lot about this. At the same time we have each other, Claus Costa (HSV-Sportdirektor, d. Red.) and I also met other coaching candidates. In the end we chose Merlin and his team.

Ask: Because he delivered success.

Kuntz: Two wins, two draws. That’s part of it. But it was very important that the content convinced us. In addition, he no longer had to get to know the players – a new coach did. That might have cost a lot of valuable time. Furthermore, after my conversations with fan groups and people from the surrounding area, I knew that there was a certain amount of support for Merlin and his team in the city.

Ask: After the seventh matchday, HSV is in a secure midfield position despite the 1:2 defeat at second-placed RB Leipzig.

Kuntz: This is a snapshot, nothing more. I am convinced that we still need around 30 points to achieve our goal: staying in the league. Because I emphasized it after the game in Berlin: It will be the toughest relegation battle since I’ve been involved in the professional game, i.e. for over 40 years.

Ask: After seven years of absence, it is noticeable: the Bundesliga is happy that HSV is back.

Kuntz: We have that impression too. Of course, there were some who said after the relegation in 2018: Now HSV has finally been relegated after narrowly escaping itself several times before. But not being there for seven years was, on the one hand, a great period of suffering for our fans – but on the other hand, I think that many in Germany also missed HSV in the first division.

Ask: Why?

Kuntz: There is always a certain amount of sympathy for large, traditional clubs – or at least they attract a lot of attention. They create stories – like we do now with the double promotion as a success story. There is also a huge, colorful fan culture. Our supporters have always been welcome abroad. This makes us feel good, of course strengthens us and will help us.

Ask: The most expensive signing last summer was Rayan Philippe from second division club Eintracht Braunschweig for around 2.5 million euros. When will HSV be able to spend ten or 20 million euros on a player?

Kuntz: Firstly: You should always know that HSV played in the second division for seven years and therefore receives significantly less money from the TV pot compared to many other clubs.

Ask: HSV will receive 31.4 million euros, around 24 million euros less than Mainz 05, for example…

Kuntz: Second: It always depends on the situation. After promotion, we knew from our analysis that we needed a lot of changes in the squad in order to survive in the first division. Does it then make sense to spend all or a large part of the transfer budget on just one player, or does it make more sense to sign several of them? In our case the answer was clear. But I don’t want to completely rule out in the future, when the team’s structure is in place, that we might spend larger sums on just one or two players in order to significantly improve positions and take the next step.

Ask: The additions also included 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic, who was on loan from Tottenham and has been playing very well so far. Does HSV have a chance of signing him beyond the season?

Kuntz: No, I think that’s impossible. Because next year after his time at HSV he will be even more expensive – should Tottenham even want to sell him – than before the current season.

Ask: According to the specialist portal “transfermarkt.de”, Vuskovic’s market value is 18 million euros. Are you worried that HSV will lose him again to Tottenham in the winter due to a return clause?

Kuntz: I basically don’t say anything about contract details. But that cannot be assumed. (smiles)

Ask: Under you as sports director, HSV achieved double promotion. Previously you were, among other things, a player and coach. What drives you?

Kuntz: My motivation in football as a player was the desire for recognition when people cheered for the goals I scored. The ball had to be taken out of the net quickly to score the next one. That was my driving force. When your playing career is over, you can no longer make a hut. Then it will be difficult.

Ask: You became coach at Borussia Neunkirchen in 1999…

Kuntz: Because I thought it would extend my football career a little. But when it came down to it, I questioned that kind of motivation and had second thoughts. I then completed a distance learning course with a focus on modern football management – ​​and this addiction to recognition changed. I wanted to develop further as a person. I ended up working in a few other roles, with great joy and drive.

Ask: You led Germany’s U21s to the European Championship title as coach in 2017 and 2021, then Turkey brought you in as national coach – and you were recently considered Joachim Löw’s successor. Were you disappointed that you didn’t become national coach after the European Championships four years ago?

Kuntz: I was only disappointed that Oliver Bierhoff (war 2021 Nationalmannschafts-Manager, d. Red.) didn’t speak to me personally. And as for Turkey. There’s a strange story about this: Before I got involved, I had an offer from Russia to be a national coach. The association wanted a quick result. At the time, I was still at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with the DFB team and didn’t want to make a decision until afterward.

Ask: On October 30th you will celebrate your 63rd birthday. Are you interested in working as a trainer again?

Kuntz: I don’t rule that out. But if that happens, I see myself more as a national coach. To coach a team for a whole season, I don’t think I have that energy anymore just because of my age.

Ask: Sports director Claus Costa’s contract is to be extended in the near future, and the supervisory board is also considering extending your contract, which runs until 2027. What is the status?

Kuntz: Claus does a top job. His market overview, his network, his commitment and the collaboration convinced me. And as for my situation: I’m not worried. I feel extremely comfortable at HSV and still have short and medium-term ideas and goals for the club.

Ask: What are HSV’s medium-term sporting ambitions?

Kuntz: Stay in the Bundesliga. The next step would be to aim for a secure midfield position. And if you can do that over the years, then get a taste of international business and then see if you have a chance of making it to the top 6. But that is currently a long way off. I don’t think any of our fans are asking us to play at the top. Because the sense of entitlement has changed a little.

Ask: As HSV sports director, you are also responsible for women. What are the goals?

Kuntz: As emphasized at the beginning: We are committed to women’s football – and we don’t just let it happen casually, but want to further strengthen it. We want to continuously improve, manage to stay in the league this season and aim for the top 6 in the medium term. As a board, we are extremely committed and exchange ideas with other clubs. Eric (Financial boss Eric Huwer, d. Ed.) regarding conception, further development and marketing, I primarily in the sporting area. We want to take on the role of lighthouse in the north when it comes to the education of girls and women.

The interview was conducted for the Sports Competence Center (WELT, „Bild“, “Sport Image”) created and first published in “Sport Bild”.