2. Bundesliga
Hamburg appoint Steffen Baumgart
Hamburg have named Steffen Baumgart as their new head coach, a week after the dismissal of Tim Walter.
Baumgart, who left Bundesliga club Cologne in December, takes over with Hamburg third in Bundesliga 2, four points behind the automatic promotion places. The 52-year has signed a contract through to summer 2025.
"Steffen Baumgart is known for his passionate and captivating personality," said HSV sporting director Jonas Boldt. "We now need him to help carry on what we have already started building and to continue to follow the path we have decided to go down."
Baumgart oversaw 98 competitive matches in charge of Cologne, but it's his promotion-winning expertise that Hamburg will be hoping to tap into after six consecutive seasons in Bundesliga 2. He won back-to-back promotions with Paderborn in 2018 and 2019, guiding them from 3. Liga to the Bundesliga.
Returning HSV - relegated from the Bundesliga in 2017/18 for the first time in their history - to the top tier is his immediate objective.
"I'm really pleased to be here and I'm looking forward to this challenge," Baumgart said at his official unveiling on 20 February. "I'm going to get straight to work with the lads. Our aim is clear - we want to get promoted."
Watch: Steffen Baumgart earned cult status at Cologne
Hamburg host ninth-placed Elversberg in Baumgart's first game as coach on Sunday. The Dinos are winless in two, and have won only one of their last four. Northern rivals Hannover are only a point behind them in fourth, with 12 rounds of regulation fixtures remaining.
The division's top two gain automation promotion, while the third-placed team faces 16th in the Bundesliga over two legs for the right to play in the top flight the following season. HSV have contested the last two editions of the play-off, losing out to VfB Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin.