Official | Stefan Kuntz departs Hamburg

Hamburg have reluctantly agreed to part ways with Director for Sport, Stefan Kuntz. The supervisory board were informed of the 63-year-olds desire to leave his post between Christmas and the New Year.

Kuntz cited personal reasons for his sudden departure, explaining in the Hamburg press release: “Sometimes there are more important things than football. That’s the case for me now. I don’t want to say anything more about it and ask that this be respected. I thank HSV for a fantastic year and a half. I wish the teams and the entire office staff all the best for the future.”

The German legend took up the position of the club’s Director of Sport in May 2024 following the departure of Jonas Boldt. Under Kuntz’s guidance, Merlin Polzin was appointed permanent manager and led Die Rothosen to promotion in 2025 after a turbulent seven-year spell in the second division.

Following promotion, Kuntz oversaw a complete overhaul of HSV’s playing squad, with key figures from the promotion campaign departing for pastures new. Davie Selke, Ludovit Reis, and Sebastian Schönlau all left the Volksparkstadion, while 11 new signings were brought in. Kuntz was credited with three late summer arrivals in the form of Luka Vušković, Fábio Vieira, and Albert Sambi Lokonga, all of whom have impressed during the first half of the Bundesliga season.

Chairman of Hamburg’s supervisory board, Michael Papenfuβ called for calm and stressed the club is in no immediate rush to appoint a successor: “We’ll proceed calmly and rationally – as we believe we are in a very strong position. Nevertheless, we in the supervisory board have already begun discussing this and will make a decision when we deem it the right one for HSV. We are under no time pressure; we are competitive and capable of taking action. To reiterate: Eric Huwer, Claus Costa, the entire coaching staff, and the second management team, as well as the entire workforce, enjoy our full confidence.”

GGFN | Harry Good