Team

Meffert: “The team’s success comes above everything”

Jonas Meffert is HSV’s vice-captain – and few embody the team-first mentality as completely as he does, putting collective success ahead of personal ambition. His attitude reflects the growing spirit currently shaping this Hamburg side.

In many ways, Jonas Meffert was the personification of HSV’s current state last Sunday evening. A glance at the starting line-up for the home game against Mainz 05 might make that sound surprising – his name wasn’t there. But Meffert still embodied exactly what has made HSV so strong in recent weeks. Coming on from the bench, he immediately took control in his usual deep midfield role: steady, positionally alert, intercepting passes, closing down space, and showing his trademark composure on the ball. He even produced a few elegant moments – a neat one-two here, a clever turn by the touchline there – that underlined his quality. And when the final whistle blew and the team celebrated in front of the Nordkurve, Meffert was right at the front – smiling, waving, celebrating shoulder to shoulder with his teammates.

Outside the dressing room afterwards, his pulse already back to normal, he calmly summed things up for the waiting reporters: “We stuck to the game plan perfectly and showed a performance that reminded me of those great nights at the Volkspark a few months ago.” The vice-captain – who took the armband after coming on – didn’t need to spell it out. Everyone knew what he meant: those nights in May, and especially the 6-1 win over Ulm when promotion was sealed. Sunday’s game brought that feeling flooding back. There was humility in his words too. Unlike back in May, Meffert wasn’t in the starting XI this time, and his role has naturally evolved since promotion. Yet his attitude remains unchanged – he continues to give everything for the team. “We’ve added a lot of quality to the squad, which was necessary after promotion,” he said honestly. “Of course, there are days when it’s easier or harder to accept a new role, but it’s always about the success of the team. That comes above everything, and we all give our all for that.”

And he leads by example. Meffert continues to train at full intensity and is always ready when called upon – bringing his experience, defensive awareness and calm link play in midfield. He did so again in Munich, when HSV stabilised in the second half, and again last Sunday as the team took another step forward in their development. “The coaches don’t just prepare us perfectly for every game and opponent – they have a special feel for how to bring the team together and help it grow,” he explained. “That’s happening right now. You can really see it on the pitch. The first half today was great to watch – the atmosphere, the football, the goals – it was just a brilliant evening.”

Those are the words of a player who truly lives the team spirit, setting the tone for what the coaches and sporting directors expect of the entire squad: no one is bigger than the team. Because only through unity, togetherness and collective belief can a side succeed in the Bundesliga. And when that’s combined with growing defensive stability and flowing attacking football, it produces exactly the kind of nights Hamburg fans love – special evenings at the Volkspark, full of football, emotion and celebration. And right in the middle of it, as ever, symbolising everything this team stands for – that’s where you’ll continue to find Jonas Meffert.