Walter set to take charge of his 100th HSV game

When Hamburger SV and Schalke lock horns in the 2. Liga, it is in simple terms always a very special game. This year, the two giants will get the second half of the season underway in front of more than 60,000 fans and two of the loudest groups of fans in Schalke’s temple of football. The floodlight fixture promises to be a special night. And especially for Hamburg coach Tim Walter, who will take charge of his 100th game as HSV head coach on Saturday night (20:30 CET).

100 competitive games as Hamburg head coach – an achievement that was last matched before Tim Walter by Thomas Doll between 2004 and 2006, and in total there have only been eight coaches in the long and storied league history of the Rothosen to have reached that mark. Tim Walter will be number nine, then, and with a points-per-game average of 1.83, the 48 year-old is close to the two-point average he always aims for. An away victory at Schalke would draw him and his side ever closer to that mark, and along with being a third league away success of the season would represent a 54th victory out of 100.

Tim Walter himself will be viewing the encounter against Schalke less as a personal celebration, and much more as an important game for his team and the club. After a training camp and two friendlies against top sides from the Netherlands and Switzerland, there are finally points on offer again in the 2. Liga. And, given the situation in the league will not allow for any wasted points, one thing will be more important than any other for Walter on Saturday night – the three points. Just as in his very first game as Hamburg head coach. That took place on 23rd July 2021, and Hamburg won on that occasion by three goals to one. Where?  Well that should be obvious – Schalke. All things are meant to come full circle.