Costa hails Polzin: What impresses him most about the coach | OneFootball

Claus Costa, together with sporting director Stefan Kuntz, made the decision to appoint Merlin Polzin as head coach at HSV. He praised his work in the highest terms.

The results alone speak for themselves. Unlike his seven predecessors, Merlin Polzin managed the long-awaited return to the Bundesliga. After a complicated summer preparation, he formed a team that now has a realistic chance of staying in the league.

The head coach had a clear advantage when he took office, as sporting director Claus Costa pointed out in an interview with transfermarkt.de: “Merlin had many years to observe and learn which adjustments are needed for short-term success. In a way, he was able to prepare himself for the day when his time would come. Merlin knew every player in detail and understood how to approach them on a personal level. At the same time, he had a footballing vision and knew which player felt most comfortable in which position.”

Contract Extension: Will Costa Follow Polzin?

Since the summer of 2020, Polzin had served as assistant coach and therefore knew the squad inside out. His consistently positive mindset proved helpful. “He always sees first what a player can do, not what he can’t or does poorly. Merlin had the whole team behind him from day one,” Costa explained. That’s why Polzin also succeeded in convincing long-standing key players, who received significantly less after promotion, to accept their new roles.

The best example is Jonas Meffert, who has hardly featured so far and recently emphasized again: “The coaches not only prepare us perfectly for every match and every opponent, but also have a special sense for how to bring a team together and help it grow.” Costa echoed the praise: “Merlin is not just a football coach. He doesn’t only focus on tactics and training, but has quickly developed into a head coach who keeps the big picture in mind.”

Nur die Raute – All the news about HSV

He once again highlighted the demeanor of the 34-year-old coach: “What I find absolutely impressive about Merlin: he radiates an extremely great calm.” In his view, this is explained by the trust in his coaching staff and the tangible “backing and support of the entire club.” This was also reflected in the contract extension that took place before the season began.

This very topic will occupy Costa in the near future. His contract runs until 30.06.2026. However, a continued collaboration seems realistic: “HSV is not just an employer – Hamburg has also become home. I believe we have set out on a very good path and, of course, I can imagine continuing on this path.”

Photo: IMAGO

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.