Doubts surrounding Bruno Labbadia as potential new Hamburg head coach – other options now on the table

After it was initially reported that Bruno Labbadia was set to become Hamburg’s new manager, the club seems to be reconsidering this decision.

At the weekend, Hamburg beat Karlsruhe 3-1 and this has now meant that interim head coach Merlin Polzin earned another week in charge against Darmstadt, while doubts have arisen about the potential hiring of Labbadia, reports kicker. 

Sport Bild reports that Polzin is now a possible candidate for the vacant Hamburg job, especially if he performs against Darmstadt. However, other names are still being considered. 

Former Nantes head coach Jocelyn Gourvennec is a name that is apparently on Hamburg’s list. The Frenchman, despite never playing or coaching in Germany knows the language, while he is also familiar with Hamburg’s current assistant coach Loïc Favé. 

Gourvennec has a reputation for helping teams get promoted, whilst also staying in the league afterwards. In 2013, he led Guingamp to promotion to Ligue 1, before then keeping them in the French first division as well as leading them to an unlikely Coupe de France win a year later. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan