Didn’t take long after speculating the other day: Mirko Slomka has been fired as boss of Hamburger SV, the struggling “Bundesliga-Dino”. It apparently happened on the Monday after their lackluster 0-2 Sunday defeat at Hannover.
He becomes the first Bundesliga firing of the season, but it certainly isn’t too much of a surprise, considering he hasn’t been able to get anything going since taking over for Bert van Marwijk last February. He did manage to see HSV squeak by in the relegation playoffs on goal difference, which keeps the famed Bundesliga clock running (Counting off HSV’s role as sole remaining founder of the Bundesliga that has participated in every season – they’ve never been relegated.) Aside from not getting any results, apparently Slomka had lost control of the locker room as well and wasn’t very popular. (Of course, I’m not sure if it wasn’t that he told the players that they suck and need to work harder…)
There is speculation as to who the follow-up will be. The club is known to be in favor of Thomas Tuchel, the young ex-Mainz leader who was pushed out because he had disagreements with management. However Tuchel has stated he plans to take a year off, so it’s unclear whether he could be convinced to comeback early. Huub Stevens has been mentioned as well, having served HSV back in 2007-08.
Perhaps their best candidate however would be the old HSV legend, Felix Magath, who is about to get fired at Fulham. That way they could rebuild down in the 3.Liga and straighten things out…
HSV yet again think a quick fix at the coach position will help sort out the problem that their players are either crap or just not bothered! I can’t see them staying up this season and give whoever the next coach is until Christmas before he is fired!
I think really HSV need to accept that they need a total rebuild, and if that means relegation, so be it. Get in a new manager and head coach, make a plan with them and stick too it. Only with a bit of consistancy can they ever hope to return to the top of the German game.