After this interview, no one would have placed much faith in Robert Glatzel. He was “maximally frustrated,” Glatzel revealed to the “Hamburger Morgenpost” in a conversation that was not coordinated with Hamburger SV.
Such things are immediately sanctioned in the Bundesliga: Glatzel was missing in the following game at Borussia Dortmund. He was fined. Would the crowd’s favorite with his 73 second division goals in 115 games never play for HSV again?
As striker number five, Glatzel sought a conversation with “Mopo”. He later apologized to the team and coach. He had to get his dissatisfaction off his chest. Five weeks later he is a regular player: “Football is crazy,” he says.
Because coach Merlin Polzin demands strong starters for the Bundesliga, rather than a striker who scores points through his strong finish, Glatzel had a difficult time. That hurt. His top salary (1.2 million euros gross per year) was no consolation. That’s one thing with the connection between professionals and their clubs. But Glatzel is bought from the fact that he enjoys playing for HSV as much as he lives here with his wife and two children in the Eimsbüttel district.
He passed up some good offers from other clubs in order to get his team into the Bundesliga, which he did with ten goals in 15 games; Glatzel was injured for most of the 2024/25 season. Some of HSV’s purchases were not a sign of trust: first Davie Selke stole the show, then came Yussuf Poulsen. Glatzel remained patient for a long time and said nothing. Until March 17th.
Now he is working on ensuring that HSV can plan another first division year despite defensive weaknesses and attacking problems. Glatzel is 32 years old and his contract runs until June 30, 2027. It currently looks like a separation; Just like before his time at HSV in Cardiff, the family could imagine their next trip to the British island. But as “crazy” as his Bundesliga year has been so far, Glatzel’s stay at HSV would come as no surprise.
