Interview
08.08.25
Glatzel: “I’m looking forward to the full Bundesliga experience”
In an interview with hsv.de, striker Robert Glatzel talks about a special return to the Bundesliga, his unique journey with HSV and a new-look squad. A conversation about the pull of Germany’s top flight and what it takes to succeed there.
For four years, Robert Glatzel has been fighting to return to the Bundesliga wearing the diamond on his chest – both for the club and for himself. The Munich-born forward has already had a taste of life in Germany’s top tier. In the second half of the 2020/21 Bundesliga season, his dream came true when he made his debut for Mainz 05 while on loan – a late bloomer at 27, having worked his way up the divisions through the lower reaches of German football. He then joined HSV, where he has consistently delivered year after year, racking up an impressive 100 goal involvements (80 goals, 20 assists) in 129 competitive games.
After a challenging season in which he experienced the longest injury lay-off of his career, faced unique competition for places alongside strike partner Davie Selke, and ultimately achieved the long-awaited promotion, Glatzel now stands on the brink of the Bundesliga once again. In Mallorca, during HSV’s training camp, the 31-year-old reflected on this new chapter – and why it’s so special to do it with HSV.
hsv.de: Bobby, what memories come to mind when you think of 6th February 2021?
Robert Glatzel: That must have been my Bundesliga debut. It was a dream come true for me. I still remember it well, especially the days leading up to the game. My move from the Championship to Mainz only went through a few hours before the transfer window closed – and all during the coronavirus pandemic. I’ll never forget my debut. It was really cool and surreal, even if, because of Covid, it wasn’t the full Bundesliga experience with fans in the stadium.
You said your debut was the fulfilment of a dream. When did that dream first take shape?
Like so many kids, I grew up playing on the local pitch, imitating my Bundesliga heroes. The routine was always the same – I’d watch the weekend highlights on TV, then head straight outside to copy my favourite players: Michael Ballack, Giovanni Elber, Mehmet Scholl and Oliver Kahn from Bayern, plus Thomas “Icke” Hässler from 1860 Munich. Growing up in Munich, those were my guys. The Bundesliga was a huge deal for me from the start. As I got older and my path in football became clearer, the dream only got stronger.
Although you had your first taste of the Bundesliga with Mainz, you joined HSV in 2021 in the second division – this time with the clear goal of playing in the top flight with the Rothosen. How does it feel to be back there after four years and several attempts?
A bit like my Bundesliga debut – surreal. If you look at the whole journey with HSV, it’s just incredibly special. When I first joined, I didn’t expect it to take four years. The fact that I’ve now made it with HSV makes it all the more rewarding. The images and memories from the Ulm match and the celebrations at Jungfernstieg will stay with me forever. There aren’t many other clubs where you could experience something like that.
There were several concrete offers to move to the Bundesliga in that time. Was it worth waiting for this moment with HSV?
When I think about achieving it with a club I’ve grown to love – a club I’ll be a fan of for life – then yes, absolutely. It was a once-in-a-lifetime feeling to win promotion with HSV, especially considering how long we worked for it, the friendships built over that time and everything we went through together as a team.
Last season brought plenty of highs and lows for you personally. How did you experience the promotion campaign?
It wasn’t an easy season. I’d set myself the target of playing a huge part in getting us promoted. In previous years I’d been one of the key players, rarely missing a game through injury. So it was tough not to be at full tilt every week. But I would have signed up for it in advance – promotion came above everything, even my own situation.
In your first three HSV seasons you carried much of the attacking burden, but last year Davie Selke came in and you pushed each other before your injury. How did you find that competition?
I’ll be honest – at first I wasn’t thrilled. That’s only natural, I think. I’d been delivering consistently and scoring goals. But I quickly realised how well Davie settled into the team and how much he helped us. He was a key factor in our promotion – a huge asset. He was a great strike partner and teammate, and everyone at the club felt the same. In hindsight, signing him was exactly the right move.
Now Yussuf Poulsen has joined – another experienced Bundesliga striker. How do you view the competition this time?
It’s a new challenge with the Bundesliga. It’s going to be tough, so having three or four strikers who can play – and who all want to play – is exactly what we need for our goal.
Even after so many years in professional football, can you still learn from each other?
Definitely. I picked up a few things from Davie last season. You have to be open to learning and taking on ideas. Yussuf has a wealth of experience and played a specific style at RB Leipzig, so I’m sure I can learn from him too.
Your long injury lay-off set you back last year. How are you feeling now – are you still catching up in terms of rhythm?
That’s hard to say. After a long break, it always takes time to get back to 100%. But I feel great – I’ve completed the whole pre-season so far without any niggles and I’ve got plenty of minutes in the friendlies. I don’t feel any restrictions now.
Alongside Yussuf, there are plenty of other new faces in the squad – but also some notable departures, like your roommate Ludovit Reis. How do you see those changes?
On a personal level, Ludo leaving is a shame. He became a really good friend – we shared a lot together. Friendships like that are rare in football and we kept it going off the pitch too. But change is part of the game – familiar faces go, new ones come in. We’ve added quality and fresh competition. The club has big ambitions for this season. Right now we’re in a phase where we need to gel quickly so we can all pull in the same direction.
What’s most important in that settling-in process?
Talking to the new guys, getting them involved. You have to be open, ask questions, not just stick with your usual mates. A training camp is the perfect chance to do that, to spend time together away from football. Last night a few of us – including some of the new lads – went out for dinner. That kind of thing helps a lot.
The Bundesliga kicks off in just two weeks. Even though your last game there was four years ago – what’s different about the top flight?
The opponents are much stronger. I remember in my first Bundesliga games it felt like you hardly touched the ball unless the whole team defended together. Mistakes get punished much more ruthlessly. We’ll have to fight and suffer, and make the most of the few chances we get. For me as a striker, that’s a big challenge – there’ll be fewer chances, so we’ll need to take them clinically.
What are you looking forward to most about returning to the Bundesliga?
It’s the whole challenge. I’m looking forward to all of it – the big clubs, the traditional rivalries, the derbies, the full stadiums. The Bundesliga just has so much to offer. I played in it behind closed doors last time, so now I can’t wait for the full experience – especially our home games at the Volksparkstadion. The atmosphere will be incredible, and hopefully we can get our first home wins on the board quickly.
The season starts with a bang for you personally – the derby on matchday 2, travelling to your home city to face FC Bayern on matchday 3, and taking on your ex-club Heidenheim on matchday 4. What went through your mind when you saw the fixture list?
I was buzzing straight away. You couldn’t ask for a better start – the derby is one of the best games there is. The last two home derbies against St. Pauli have been highlights of my time here. Then it’s Bayern away in my home city, and games against former clubs are always special. But it’s not just those matches – fixtures against Gladbach, Dortmund and Leverkusen also get me excited. It’s about the whole Bundesliga journey – big games, tough challenges.