Hamburger SV returns to Bundesliga after seven years, ending Son Heung-min’s curse

Hamburger SV returns to the Bundesliga after 7 years.

On the 11th (Korean time), Hamburger defeated SSV Ulm 1846 6-1 in the 33rd round of the 2024-2025 season 2. Bundesliga (German second division) at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany.

With this victory, Hamburger secured 59 points (16 wins, 11 draws, 6 losses) and confirmed their promotion to the Bundesliga for next season. Although there is still one match left, they have secured at least 2nd place, increasing the gap with 3rd place Elversberg (55 points) to 4 points. Currently leading the league, Hamburger could secure the title if they defeat Greuther Fürth in their final match.

It was a one-sided match. Hamburger conceded the opening goal to Tom Gal in the 7th minute of the first half, but quickly equalized with a goal from Ludovit Reis three minutes later. Then, in the 42nd minute of the first half, a goal from Lanceford Yeboah-Königsdörfer turned the match around, and in stoppage time, a goal from David Selke extended their lead to 3-1.

Once Hamburger's firepower ignited, it showed no signs of cooling off in the second half. They had a pleasant start with an own goal from the opponent in the 3rd minute of the second half, and then in the 17th minute, Königsdörfer shook the net once more. With a goal from Daniel Elfadli in the 41st minute, they sealed the match with a 6-goal victory.

When the final whistle blew, a festival literally began. Hamburger fans rushed onto the field to enjoy the moment of promotion they had been waiting for for 7 years. They celebrated joyfully, singing along with the players, and some even cut pieces of the goal net. Many fans also took home some of the pitch's grass as a souvenir.

Hamburger stated through their official website, "Hamburger has done it! We secured our return to the top flight of German football with a win against Ulm at home. A long-awaited scene of joy unfolded." They added, "It's official! Hamburger confirmed their promotion to the Bundesliga in front of 57,000 spectators. This is the achievement made in the 33rd season of the second division. Fans flocked to the stadium to celebrate enthusiastically with the team as the pain of 7 years came to an end."

The Bundesliga also congratulated, stating, "Hamburger has successfully returned. The former 'dinosaur' of the Bundesliga is back in the top league," and noted, "After a dramatic season, Hamburger finally returned to the top flight after 7 years since being relegated. The curse on Hamburger has now been lifted."

Hamburger achieved their goal after a tumultuous season. In early December last year, they fell to 8th place amid chaotic standings and sacked head coach Steffen Baumgart. They then appointed assistant coach Merlin Poltch as the interim head coach.

As a result, Hamburger's bold decision proved correct. After appointing Poltch as head coach, they went undefeated in their first 10 matches, quickly rising to the top of the league. Poltch also officially took over as the head coach, shedding the interim tag.

However, there were ups and downs afterward. Hamburger managed only 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses in the last month's 4 league matches and slipped from the top spot. There were concerns about promotion being in jeopardy. However, Hamburger rebounded with a 4-0 triumph over Darmstadt in the previous round and finished strong with a win against Ulm in their last home match, marking the end of their long promotion challenge.

The key player in Hamburger's promotion is undoubtedly tall striker Selke. Standing at 195 cm, he scored 21 goals in 30 league matches this season, achieving a career high. Notably, Selke transferred from Cologne, where he had been competing for the title with Hamburger last summer, making his performance even more noteworthy.

This news will also delight Heung-min Son, as Hamburger is the club where he embarked on his professional journey. He honed his skills at Hamburger Academy starting in 2008 and made his first team debut in the summer of 2010 after signing a professional contract.

At that time, Son's potential was highly anticipated. He received constant praise within the team, and legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy also commented, "My teammate Son, at 18 years old, possesses incredible talent. Pay attention to him."

Son soared from preseason, earning the nickname 'wonder boy', and made a stunning debut goal in his Bundesliga debut, grabbing everyone's attention. He scored 3 goals in 13 league matches during the 2010-2011 season, and in the following season, wearing number 15, he netted 5 goals in 27 league matches. Then, during the 2012-2013 season, he returned to number 40 and scored 12 goals in 33 league matches, showcasing his talent.

After that, it was smooth sailing. Son left for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2013 with a transfer fee of €12.5 million (approximately 18 billion won), and two years later, he joined Tottenham for a record transfer fee of €30 million (approximately 43.2 billion won). Now, Son has become a legend at Tottenham.

As more than 10 years have passed, Son and Hamburger's connection continues. He received a Hamburger jersey with the number 40 reading 'SON' last year. At that time, Son said, "I really like it. Wow. Honestly, I'm really getting emotional. (Hamburger) is where I started. I’m really grateful. Thank you," and sent a cheer to his former team, saying, "Let’s go! (Auf geht's)!"

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