Football Season Guide

It has now been five long years in the second division for Hamburger as promotion back to the top division continues to elude them. They were a lot closer last season, narrowly losing out to Hertha Berlin over two legs in the play-offs back in May. There is, however, cautious optimism that this can finally be the year Hamburger can achieve promotion. The club is fully behind coach Tim Walter and feels he has made the necessary progress to remain in charge. The good news for Hamburger also is keeping prolific striker Robert Glatzel on board, after he signed a new contract at the club, the frontman scored 22 goals last season and you will expect him to be a preferential figure again this time around. The other positives for the club are that they have kept the majority of the squad from last season, defensive duo Vuskovic and Muheim have signed on a permanent deal after impressing on loan last campaign. Midfielder Laszlo Benes from Borussia Monchengladbach is a healthy addition to the midfield and winger Filip Bilbija should help to cover for the loss of youngster Alidou, who left for Eintracht Frankfurt. Ransford Konigsdorfer should also add some quality to the front line. There is still a slight question mark on the club’s ability to see off the so-called lesser sides, too many draws last season saw them fall short of the automatic promotion places, so a ruthlessness will need to be applied from the get-go.