Why Schonlau’s departure marks the end of an era | OneFootball

Sebastian Schonlau left HSV shortly before the start of the Bundesliga season for Canada. His move is indicative of the upheaval that has taken place since the promotion.

Let's look back to the summer of 2021: Hamburger SV had just missed out on a return to the Bundesliga for the third time in a row and was once again facing significant personnel changes. Among others, established players like Simon Terodde, Sven Ulreich, Aaron Hunt, Toni Leistner or Klaus Gjasula, who were specifically signed for the recent promotion mission, left.

HSV had to reduce its budget and presented Tim Walter as the new coach, who was supposed to provide entertaining offensive football in the face of the difficult conditions. Under him, Daniel Heuer Fernandes became the first-choice goalkeeper again. Players like Robert Glatzel, Ludovit Reis, Jonas Meffert, Mario Vuskovic, Miro Muheim and Sebastian Schonlau joined the team.

Schonlau becomes captain immediately

The latter immediately replaced Tim Leibold as captain. "It was a difficult decision because Sebastian Schonlau and Tim Leibold are the two guys who are driving our team forward and should take responsibility together with the team council. To set new impulses, the choice fell on Bascho," explained Coach Walter his decision.

While Leibold subsequently played hardly any role and was replaced by Muheim as left-back, Schonlau became a key figure and formed an excellently harmonizing center-back duo with Mario Vuskovic for over a year and a half. The Bundesliga comeback seemed within reach as early as May 2022, but HSV failed in the relegation despite a 1:0 victory in the first leg against Hertha BSC.

(Photo by Cathrin Mueller/Getty Images)

But just half a year later, the center-back pairing was broken up by the positive Vuskovic doping tests. Alongside Schonlau, Jonas David or Javi Montero played - but not nearly as stable as the predecessor. HSV conceded too many goals, but still had one and a half legs in the Bundesliga, before Heidenheim overtook them with last-minute goals in Regensburg and the next relegation followed. There, VfB Stuttgart (0:3/1:3) proved to be clearly too strong.

Schonlau: More than a captain

Schonlau, whom Walter described as his "extended arm", remained unimpressed by the lack of continuity around him and regularly demonstrated his qualities. He first faltered in the following season. Due to constant calf problems, the Warburg native only played four games in the first half of the season. At least he had already extended his contract by two more years in August 2023.

"We are very pleased that 'Bascho' will remain with us with his footballing quality as well as his strong personality. From day one, he has committed himself to our set ambitions, values and goals and exemplifies them as captain in an exemplary manner," said then sporting director Jonas Boldt in the club announcement. Words that Steffen Baumgart, Schonlau's promoter in Paderborn and following a botched start to the second half of the season at the beginning of 2024, joined in the ZDF documentary "Always Hamburg": "I have rarely seen a player who has taken such a clear development in terms of personality, professionalism, team structure, influence, and self-understanding as Bascho."

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The documentary, which has been accessible to everyone since last Friday, provides deep insights into HSV over the last one and a half years. It was quite obvious how much responsibility Schonlau, whom teammate and buddy Meffert saw as a "perfect captain", took on. His commitment went far beyond the normal tasks of a leading player. He also contributed off the field with input or represented the club at public events.

Form and regular place are lost

Other players, who appeared as key performers at the weekend, seemed to hide behind him. Schonlau, who saw the dismissal of Walter as a "personal defeat", was now increasingly struggling with his own problems and found it difficult to get into the 2024/25 season. On the ninth matchday, he already received his second dismissal. At the beginning of the second half of the season - Merlin Polzin had meanwhile followed Baumgart - he lost his regular place.

(Photo by Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images)

The last attempt to promote the long-time captain back into the first eleven failed in the 1:1 draw in Regensburg. From then on, it was clear that Schonlau had to settle for the role of third center-back behind Daniel Elfadli and Dennis Hadzikadunic. Reis, who had learned a lot from his teammate in the previous three and a half years, led HSV onto the field.

Schonlau himself accepted his place on the bench without complaint and was there when needed. A prime example of this is the 4:0 win in Darmstadt, where he put in a confident performance after being substituted. "Without Bascho, we would never have been promoted. What he did for the team in the background - even in the moments when he didn't get the playing time anymore - was outstanding and exceeded the tasks of a captain," Polzin raved afterwards. At the promotion game itself, the 6:1 against Ulm, the captain was missing due to a yellow card suspension. Even then, it could be guessed that the long-awaited return to Germany's highest league would cause a lot of movement in the squad.

HSV: Promotion causes upheaval

A few days after the Ulm game, sporting director Stefan Kuntz announced: "We need to strengthen our team to have a chance to play a role in the Bundesliga." Accordingly, HSV acted busily during the transfer period. Nine new signings joined the team, while eleven players looked for a new challenge. This also included Schonlau, who had previously been stripped of the captaincy. He was replaced by Poulsen, who came from Leipzig. Meffert and Nicolás Capaldo act as deputies.

Schonlau was no longer even part of the squad for the DFB Cup match against Pirmasens. Ultimately, the separation was the logical consequence. HSV let him go to the MLS to the Vancouver Whitecaps - the new club of Thomas Müller. But not only the role of the long-time captain changed, other players also lost influence. For example, in the Bundesliga opening match at Borussia Mönchengladbach (0:0), only three professionals who have been wearing the Hamburg jersey for more than a year were in the starting eleven - namely Daniel Heuer Fernandes, Miro Muheim and Ransford Königsdörffer, who was actually already on his way to Nice.

(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Goalkeeper Heuer Fernandes also had to fight hard for his regular place in the duel with Bayern loanee Daniel Peretz. Only Muheim, the recovering Jean-Luc Dompé and Elfadli, who fit in excellently after his transfer from Magdeburg, are still undisputed. Emir Sahiti, who showed light and shadow in the last second division season, should benefit from the higher footballing level at Bundesliga level.

It's also getting tight for other promotion heroes

Meffert, who was again appointed vice-captain, initially lost his regular place to Nicolai Remberg and Capaldo, while Glatzel, who produced 80 goals in 130 appearances for HSV, was demoted to striker number three behind Poulsen and Königsdörffer. Reis was supposed to be kept, but moved to FC Brugge for around six million euros. Top scorer Davie Selke decided against a contract extension.

It is already becoming clear: The Bundesliga comeback marks the beginning of a new era, whose leading figures will be found in the coming weeks and months. The squad is not yet complete. Further reinforcements for the defense and offense are to come. The transfer window is known to be open until Monday, September 1.

The warmly bid farewell Schonlau will certainly follow the events from Vancouver, more than 7,000 kilometers away, and may be pleased to be able to focus exclusively on playing football after the "probably most emotional and intense station" of his career - in addition to the challenges that moving to a previously unknown country brings with it.

(Photo: Imago)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.