Admin I Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024
HAMBURG – Steffen Baumgart was on Tuesday appointed SV Hamburg coach with the task to leading them back into the top flight Bundesliga after six years in the second tier.
Former Cologne coach Baumgart, 52, was set to conduct his first training session later in the day, and his first game is on Sunday against mid-table Elversberg.
No contractual details were given, while the Bild paper and Sport Bild magazine reported on Monday the deal would be until 2025.
Baumgart, 52, succeeds Tim Walter who was dismissed last week as their sixth attempt to return into the Bundesliga after a first ever relegation in 2018 hangs in the balance again. Caretaker Merlin Polzin oversaw a 2-2 draw at lowly Hansa Rostock on the weekend.
“Steffen Baumgart is known for his emotionally captivating manner. We need to keep up the fire that we have ignited and continue on our targeted path,” Hamburg board member Jonas Boldt said in a statement.
Baumgart said: “I’m really looking forward to being here and to the big challenge. I’ll be working with the lads straight away. The goal is clear, there’s no need to beat about the bush: promotion.”
Former European and Bundesliga Hamburg are third in the promotion play-off spot but have been inconsistent this season and have others breathing down their neck.
They are seven points behind leaders St Pauli Hamburg and four adrift of Holstein Kiel who occupy the direct promotion slots.
Baumgart led Paderborn from the third tier into the top flight in two seasons 2017-2019, and Cologne to seventh place in the Bundesliga for a Conference League berth in 2021-22. He had to go in Cologne in December.
Baumgart has said on several occasions he is a fan of the Hamburg club. The two sides were in contact in the summer of 2021 but at the time Baumgart was already in advanced talks with Cologne and Hamburg with Walter.
Hamburg finished fourth in their first three second division seasons and lost promotion/relegation play-offs the last two years.
