Hamburg promotion ends seven-year Bundesliga absence
Hamburg have won the German top-flight title six times
- Published
Hamburg have earned promotion back to the Bundesliga to end a seven-year absence from the German top flight.
Needing a win to confirm their return, the six-time German champions thrashed Ulm 6-1 at home on Saturday and fans engulfed the pitch at the Volksparkstadion at the final whistle to celebrate.
Hamburg, who are one of only three German clubs to win the European Cup, were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in 2018.
"It's indescribable," said 34-year-old coach Merlin Polzin, whose side are a point clear of second-placed Cologne at the top of Bundesliga 2 with one game left.
"Something had been building in the background. We're back. In the end, it's the result of incredibly hard work. A very special moment."
Hamburg thought they had earned automatic promotion in 2023 when they beat Sandhausen 1-0 to move into the top two of Bundesliga 2 on the final day of the season.
However, Heidenham scored a 99th-minute winner in their game to leapfrog Hamburg, who finished third and went on to lose a promotion-relegation play-off to Stuttgart.