Founded in 1897, Hamburger Sport Verein is the most famous and probably the most popular club in northern Germany. After some success, winning the title 3 times in the 1920s, things were pretty grim, with a sole title in 1960. However, with the arrival of "Mighty Mouse" Kevin Keegan, things turned around, and the club won another three titles, 1979, 1982, 1983, also winning the Euro Champions Cup in 1983, a 1-0 triumph over Juventus. However, the last few years have seen a return to mediocrity.
Many famous players have worn the HSV colors, the biggest of which is undoubtedly Uwe Seeler, the longtime German international and leading HSV scorer. Manni Kaltz played some 580 Bundesliga games. Horst Hrubesch (pronounced "rubbish", which also refers to his dribbling skills) had a shorter career, but was a prolific goal scorer. Of course, Kevin Keegan has already been mentioned.
One point worth mentioning is that HSV is the only original member of the Bundesliga never to have been relegated. At times, poor performances have put that record in jeopardy, but the team always manages to reach safe waters.
1998-99 was a decent season for HSV. At times they threatened for a UEFA spot, but usually followed a run of good results with a few lame performances. However, the next season they played well all year, and ended with a respectable 3rd place, the best performance of the 90s. As is their pattern, they followed that with a couple of lame seasons, before putting together another fine run in 2002/03. That run continued, and whenever they got some decent players, they ended up being sold. At times, it seems like managemnet doesn't have a clue.
Fullname | Hamburger Sport-Verein e.V.
City |
Hamburg (Hamburg). Pop: 1,700,000
(2002)
| Address |
Rothenbaumchaussee 125, 20149 Hamburg
| Phone: (0 40) 4 15 50 Fax: (040) 4155109 Colors |
Blue and white, now with red. White shirt with bright red blocks, red
shorts, blue socks.
| Stadium |
Volksparkstadion. Capacity: 55,000 (40,000 seats).
Located in the Altona district. It was originally built in 1925, then
completely redone in 1953 (capacity 80,000) and in 1999. The new park is
covered (except for the field) and is state-of-the-art. HSV used to play
at the Rothenbaum, which was built in 1911, and held about 27,000.
Generally larger matches were held at Volkspark, but the Rothenbaum
was used by the amateur squad through the early 1990s. This stadium was
finally torn down in 1994. | Tickets |
Generally not to hard to come by, as the stadium is big. HSV has
implemented a 3 tier ticket strategy. The "biggies" like Dortmund and
Bayern sell from 26-60 euros, whereas "decent" teams, such as Schalke,
Bremen etc. are 21-48 euros. You can get a relative bargain by going to
see teams in the "crap" category, like Bielefeld or Bochum, 15-38 euros
(2004).
(Note: HSV is officially more diplomatic and calls the tickets
"Kategorie A,B,C".)
| Supporters |
Dedicated support, but given the crap performances, it's less
than it could be. Averaged about 48,000 in 2004. The
official HSV Supporters Club can be contacted at the club address.
| Friends |
|
Foes |
Werder Bremen is a rival for the north's affections, and of course
St.Pauli.
| Heroes |
| Zeroes |
| Beer |
Holsten is brewed locally.
Jever is a sponsor.
|
Pubs and Grubs |
Part of the problem is that the stadium is not directly in town. The
Fanhaus on Stresemannstraße at the S-Bahn station has been
mentioned as a place where HSV fans congregate prior to the match.
| The Net |
An official site is available at www.hsv.de
. HSV was one of the last clubs to sponsor an official site, but this
one is pretty decent, despite being graphics intensive. Versions in
English and Japanese, as HSV has been one club to market heavily in
Japan. There are lots of
fan pages. The fan club HSV Blue Devils runs a page at
home-t-online.de/home/Monkey/hsvbd.htm ,
| |
Recent History:
--------------
2013-14 (I) Bundesliga 16th
2012-13 (I) Bundesliga 7th
2011-12 (I) Bundesliga 15th
2010-11 (I) Bundesliga 8th
2009-10 (I) Bundesliga 7th
2008-09 (I) Bundesliga 5th
2007-08 (I) Bundesliga 4th
2006-07 (I) Bundesliga 7th
2005-06 (I) Bundesliga 3rd
2004-05 (I) Bundesliga 8th
2003-04 (I) Bundesliga 8th
2002-03 (I) Bundesliga 4th
2001-02 (I) Bundesliga 11th
2000-01 (I) Bundesliga 13th
1999-00 (I) Bundesliga 3rd
1998-99 (I) Bundesliga 7th
1997-98 (I) Bundesliga 9th
1996-97 (I) Bundesliga 13th
1995-96 (I) Bundesliga 5th
1994-95 (I) Bundesliga 13th
1993-94 (I) Bundesliga 12th
1992-93 (I) Bundesliga 11th
1991-92 (I) Bundesliga 12th
1990-91 (I) Bundesliga 5th
1989-90 (I) Bundesliga 11th
1988-89 (I) Bundesliga 4th
1987-88 (I) Bundesliga 6th
1986-87 (I) Bundesliga 2nd
1985-86 (I) Bundesliga 7th
1984-85 (I) Bundesliga 5th
1983-84 (I) Bundesliga 2nd
1982-83 (I) Bundesliga 1st CHAMPIONS
1981-82 (I) Bundesliga 1st CHAMPIONS
1980-81 (I) Bundesliga 2nd
1979-80 (I) Bundesliga 2nd
1978-79 (I) Bundesliga 1st CHAMPIONS
1977-78 (I) Bundesliga 10th
1976-77 (I) Bundesliga 6th
1975-76 (I) Bundesliga 2nd
1974-75 (I) Bundesliga 4th
1973-74 (I) Bundesliga 12th
1972-73 (I) Bundesliga 14th
1971-72 (I) Bundesliga 10th
1970-71 (I) Bundesliga 5th
1969-70 (I) Bundesliga 6th
1968-69 (I) Bundesliga 6th
1967-68 (I) Bundesliga 13th
1966-67 (I) Bundesliga 14th
1965-66 (I) Bundesliga 9th
1964-65 (I) Bundesliga 11th
1963-64 (I) Bundesliga 6th
(c) Abseits Guide to Germany