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15.09.2026
Goosebumps in the Volksparkstadion: Thousands of HSV fans celebrate Vuskovic’s comeback
To mark Mario Vuskovic’s comeback, the Rothosen held the first public training session in the history of the Volksparkstadion on Tuesday afternoon. In front of an atmospheric crowd, HSV officially began preparations for their home game against 1. FC Köln. Board member Eric Huwer: “It was a goosebumps moment that will bring us even closer together.”
Hamburger SV began their training week ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga home game against 1. FC Köln on Tuesday afternoon with an extraordinary session: for the first time in the history of the Volksparkstadion, HSV held a public training session inside the stadium. The reason was Mario Vuskovic’s return and the resulting interest from supporters and the media. The HSV players who walked into the stadium at 3.17pm were therefore met with quite a surprise, as more than 3,000 fans and HSV front office staff gave them a passionate welcome in front of the Nordtribüne.
Head coach Merlin Polzin and his coaching staff then demanded focus and intensity from the players during the session. Following the heavy 5-0 defeats against Mainz and in Leipzig, sporting director Claus Costa and head coach Polzin had unanimously announced a training week focused on the basics. The objective is clear: above all, the Rothosen must once again follow their defensive principles for the full 90 minutes in order to avoid conceding simple goals.
Polzin was able to call upon almost his entire squad. The only absentee from team training was centre-back Sebastiaan Bornauw, who had to sit out in Leipzig with muscular problems and instead completed an individual programme at the training centre. Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit, meanwhile, was able to take part in large parts of team training for the first time since his injury.
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Back among his teammates
Naturally, the attention of the spectators and the 50 media representatives in attendance, including no fewer than ten camera crews, was focused on Mario Vuskovic. The returning defender was visibly delighted and, at times, overwhelmed to be back among his new and former teammates, including Miro Muheim. Like Vuskovic, the Swiss defender joined HSV for the 2021/22 season. Not only did he share the pitch with the Croatian in 39 competitive matches, but he also remained in close contact with him throughout his four-year doping ban.
“Mario has been waiting for this moment the longest. He was very emotional and you could tell just how incredibly happy he was to be back here. Mario has so much character and an incredible will to succeed. We can really use a character like that,” said Muheim after the training session, which was also unlike anything he had experienced before given the atmosphere:
“It was very special. It was great to see how the fans and the entire club have stood behind him, not just today but throughout all four years. That gave him an incredible amount of strength throughout this period and played a major part in getting him back here now. That’s what makes HSV special: there will always be difficult times, but people stick together and don’t let themselves be knocked down.”
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Just how much the Vuskovic case has shaped Hamburger SV both on and off the pitch over the past few years was also evident in the HSV box. There, HSV board members Eric Huwer and Kathleen Krüger welcomed numerous people who have accompanied the club and Vuskovic throughout this period alongside Mario’s parents Daniel and Sanja (pictured) and Croatian Consul General Kristijan Tusek. Among them were former HSV coaches Tim Walter and Filip Tapalovic, as well as former HSV players Jonas Meffert and Sebastian Schonlau.
Eric Huwer made it clear: “I always wondered what I would do with my emotions when Mario eventually stood on the pitch again. Today we had a little taste of his comeback and you could immediately feel what he and his aura do to the entire HSV family. It was a goosebumps moment that will bring us even closer together. And there will be even more when Mario eventually puts on an HSV shirt again.”
For the team, the task now is to carry the momentum from today’s training session, along with that feeling of togetherness, into the rest of the training week. In 1. FC Köln, HSV will face opponents of a similar level at the Volksparkstadion. Köln started the season with a win over Hoffenheim (3-2), followed by a defeat in Stuttgart (4-1) and, most recently, a draw against Bremen (1-1) in the top-of-the-table clash. They finished last season one spot behind HSV in 14th.
Together, HSV want to overcome their opponents at the Volksparkstadion. “Our fans always set the tone,” Huwer emphasises. “We saw that after the game in Leipzig and again today. And that’s our path for the weeks ahead, too. This togetherness, this unconditional solidarity – you can feel just how much power this stadium and this club have.”
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