Team
20.12.25
Official send-off for Sebastian Schonlau and Ludovit Reis
Ahead of the home game against Eintracht Frankfurt, the club said an official farewell to two long-time players and promotion heroes.
Sebastian Schonlau and Ludovit Reis received an official farewell from the club ahead of their final home game of the year. The sold-out crowd at the Volksparkstadion was shown footage from the duo's time at HSV, before welcoming both players back with a big round of applause. HSV board members Stefan Kuntz and Eric Huwer, along with director of football Claus Costa, highlighted their achievements for the club before handing them each a special gift. Both Reis and Schonlau received a custom HSV shirt made up of both the home and away kits from their final season with the club. Additionally, the two also received a limited-edition set of the "Always Hamburg" documentary which featured the story of the club's promotion back to the Bundesliga. Both sets were customised with the numbers four and 14, in honour of their respective shirt numbers.
"On behalf of the entire HSV family, we would like to thank Bascho and Ludo for their efforts and commitment to our club. Our promotion was the crowning achievement of our time together," said Kuntz. "The two not only had a major impact on the pitch while at HSV, but their leadership, team spirit and desire to play for our colours also helped shape a very special chapter in our history," added Costa.
Schonlau joined the Rothosen in summer 2021 from SC Paderborn, going on to captain the side in each of the following four seasons. The centre-back featured a total of 115 times in all competitions and established himself as a role model and true team player. As a result, he was held in high regard not only by his teammates, but also by the coaches, staff members and the entire HSV family. Schonlau left the Rothosen in summer 2025 and went on to join the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Reis also spent four seasons in Hamburg before leaving at the end of their promotion-winning campaign in 2024/25 to join Club Brugge. The midfielder scored 20 goals in 129 competitive appearances for the club, and had the honour of captaining the side during the game against SSV Ulm where they sealed their promotion. Reis scored what will likely go down as his most important goal for the Rothosen, as he netted the 1-1 equaliser in an eventual 6-1 victory.