Hamburg sack coach Hannes Wolf after missing promotion

European Cup winners in 1983, Hamburg were relegated for the first time in their history last season, ending a record 55-year spell in the top flight. Under immense pressure to make an immediate return to the top tier, Hamburg sacked then coach Christian Titz after the club slipped to fifth in the second division table last October.

New boss Wolf initially steered them back on course for promotion, before a dreadful run of form towards the end of the season saw Hamburg slide down the table once again. Recent defeats to promotion rivals Union Berlin and Paderborn have left the famous old club three points adrift of the relegation play-off place in fourth, with one game to go.

With a vastly inferior goal difference to third-place Union Berlin, promotion is now a fantasy for Hamburg, who announced Wolf's impending departure on Friday. We sat down together to analyse the second half of the season, as well as our plans for next season, said sporting director Ralf Becker.

"At Hannes request, we are sharing the news prior to our last match of the season."