Training camp

“It feels good to be staying here”

Centre-back Dennis Hadzikadunic speaks to the media about extending his loan, his development under coach Steffen Baumgart and a new chapter for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Dennis Hadzikadunic hasn’t been able to settle down at a club for too long over the last few years. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, the 25-year-old centre-back has been at four different clubs in four different countries across the past three seasons. He is still under contract until 2026 at his parent club FK Rostov in Russia, but, thanks to FIFA’s special ruling because of the war, has been able to move on loan to Malmö FF (March-December 2022), RCD Mallorca (January-June 2023) and Hamburger SV (since July 2023). He recently extended his loan with HSV by a further year, something Hadzikadunic is really pleased about. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international (28 caps) spoke to the media on Thursday morning about…

…extending his contract with HSV: I’ve played for a number of different clubs over the past few years and I’ve therefore often had to get to know new coaches and teammates, which isn’t easy. It feels good to be staying here, I won’t need any time to settle in. That was an important factor in wanting to stay here.

…his development under Steffen Baumgart: I learnt two different formations and ways of playing in my first year at HSV. I struggled initially because I wasn’t used to playing the role that Tim Walter wanted me to. It was difficult to learn it as a new signing. Nevertheless, that’s how football can be and every coach has their own philosophy. Steffen Baumgart’s way of playing perhaps fits me better as a player. I feel good on the pitch and can show my defensive qualities off.

…his aims for the 2024/25 season: I want to help the team win games. I can improve in all areas, I’m somebody that’s never satisfied. I can hardly wait for the season to get going. We don’t have an easy start to the campaign, but if there’s one thing I’ve learnt about the 2. Bundesliga, then it’s that the league is really even and everyone can beat each other.

…the Bosnian national team: I got to know Sergej Barbarez (the new coach) better during a meal together in Hamburg. He explained what he wants from me as a player and what he wants to achieve with the Bosnian national team. The first steps have been good, but we’ll definitely need to find our feet. It feels like everything is new: from the sporting director and coaches to the physiotherapists and players. We need to have faith in the path we’ve taken.