TM assessment
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Hamburger SV is looking for a coach after the release of coach Steffen Baumgart. With Merlin Polzin and Loïc Favé only having interim responsibility, sports director Stefan Kuntz needs a new long-term solution. Preferably someone who can cope with the pressure of traditional clubs and the demands of the ambitious but hapless second division side. Many candidates of national and international stature are circulating. (Site notre blog d’information) narrows the circle and presents four candidates in more detail.
Ruud van Nistelrooy (without club)
The Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy has already been the subject of the Volkspark at least once – for example before Baumgart’s installation in February – and can, according to some reports, imagine with certainty getting involved there. The 48-year-old would be a charming fit as, as well as his international appeal, he also has a past as a HSV professional. The fact that this episode was only moderately successful and that there was background noise because the former striker, who was ready to move at the time, was not allowed to return at Real Madrid, is a thing of the past. Van Nistelrooy recently stepped in as interim manager at Manchester United having previously been an assistant under Erik ten Hag, recorded three wins and a draw and is said to be available. In 2022/23, he was in charge of PSV Eindhoven, but then quit because he felt « too little support and backing within the club ». German language would not be a problem.
At the Red Devils, he played in 4-2-3-1, at PSV, a 4-3-3 was used. According to the “Kicker”, the personnel seems a little too large for HSV. “The RvN is (…) a more than exciting option. We didn’t fail PSV,” says TM user “Pfiffo21”. « Rautenseher » says: « Ruud would be my wish, but I don’t think it’s realistic because I don’t think he would face HSV, because as an aspiring coach you can only lose the user » Charrua « from Van. » Nistelrooy “not convinced”.
Bruno Labbadia (without club)
Bruno Labbadia would be the least creative option on paper, but perhaps the most emotional and obvious option. The last two stations speak less for him. The 58-year-old has already been on the bench twice in his adopted city of Hamburg, dramatically saved the club from relegation in 2015 and has become a fan favorite – the second dismissal followed in September 2016. Labbadia then successfully coached at VfL Wolfsburg (February 2018 to June 2019) and everything went well at Hertha BSC (from April 2020 to January 2021). Despite the sixth highest squad value in the Bundesliga and high investments – only FC Bayern and BVB have spent more since the summer of 2019 – the Berliners were far from their European target. The latest chapter, Labbadia joining VfB Stuttgart for the second time at the end of 2022, went wrong. After just two wins in twelve matches, the trip cord was removed. In August, the Darmstadt native almost became Nigeria coach, but he canceled at the last moment because the association had prematurely announced his collaboration.
Kuntz, sports director of HSV, and Labbadia know each other and like each other, the distances are short because the coach lives in Hamburg. Several meetings would have taken place. User “Nilsenberger” sums up: “He knows the environment and the expectations. It goes all the way, there is nothing like a feel-good oasis there. Tactically solid. Mega-experienced, has been through it all. Definitely recovered. The most important question for me would be: is the fire still burning, has it continued its studies? » User “Rostein” likes Labbadia “in many ways,” but also says it wouldn’t be about instilling a gaming culture in the team. : « That’s exactly what it is about. He would also fail in the long term and working with young players and their development is not his core skill. So don’t ask Labbadia, as wrong as his dismissal in 2016.”
Niko Kovac (without club)
HSV has actually outgrown someone like Niko Kovac. But as a possible affair of the heart, the club obviously has a chance, as “Mopo” suggests. If Kovac is willing to give up money. The 53-year-old Croatian used Hamburg as a springboard as a player between 1999 and 2001 to join FC Bayern. He took up his position in Munich after his cup success with Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer of 2018, before it ended after 16 months. A presentable commitment to Monaco (1.95 points per game between July 2020 and the end of 2021) was followed by VfL Wolfsburg, where he faced Max Kruse. In the first season, a place in the Europa League was given up on the last day, in the second there was no additional sporting development: separation in March 2024 after 66 matches. User “Starfox” criticizes Kovac’s poor (Site notre bureau spécialisé) at Wolves, even though the players’ material would have been better. “It reminds me a lot of what Baumgart delivered here.”
“TopFalcon” says on the other hand: “Kovac is at least a variable coach who can adapt to the team and who has enjoyed success in different starting situations at Frankfurt, Bayern and Monaco. Defensive stability is one of the most important factors – and we still lacked that with Baumgart. (…) In Wolfsburg, all the coaches fail, so the problems are elsewhere. I wouldn’t use that against him now. » User “Windfaenger” comments critically: “Kovac certainly has a high level of professional competence as a coach. His PPS speaks for itself. In Monaco, he was on the verge of making sporting history. But he failed in the Principality, Bavaria and the WOB due to his catastrophic leadership style. He undermined top players and turned the team against him in almost every coaching position.
Lukas Kwasniok (SC Paderborn)
Paderborn coach Lukas Kwasniok was already a subject on the Elbe before Baumgart and his qualities were already appreciated by Kuntz’s predecessor Jonas Boldt. Now his name appears on the list again. Teasing the 43-year-old away from the No.1 contender over the course of the season would be a complicated undertaking for HSV. “The fact is that we have not received any requests from HSV for Lukas Kwasniok,” said SCP sports director Benjamin Weber of the “Neue Westfälische”. What is not could still become. User “Pfiffo21” says: “If we triple his salary, he shouldn’t have to think twice. At the end of the day, he has a career and needs to make the most of it. The idyll in Paderborn is only secondary. » Regarding experience in the 2nd league, Kwasniok would have a “clear advantage” over the other candidates. User “Friemersheimer” slows down: “Paderborn is first. They won’t sell their coach for anything in the world, unless they want the fans to go to the barricades. We won’t even let go of him for (…) 1 to 2 million. Never, never. That would be completely crazy.
Kwasniok, 43, has been on the bench at Paderborn since 2021 and has averaged 1.6 points per game. Placements below him: 7, 6, 7. Since he took office, the value of the SCP workforce has increased from 16.3 million to 22.8 million euros. On the Paderborn forum, “xjke07x” writes: “I’m very relaxed there. From how I knew LK, he really appreciates what he has here in Paderborn. A change in the middle of the season… I don’t like it like that. » And « Nieheimer » adds: « I think he also has something planned for us and he likes to develop young players. In principle, we can only now reap the first fruits of our youthful work and there are still some good people coming from below. » More recently, Kwasniok’s team played in a flat 3-4- system. 3, alternatively also in 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2.
