Who governs Hamburg? HSV and St. Pauli face each other in the derby!

Who governs Hamburg? HSV and St. Pauli face each other in the derby!

The Hamburg derby is approaching and the anticipation is almost palpable. On August 10, 2025, Hamburger SV (HSV) and FC St. Pauli will meet again in the Bundesliga for the first time since 2011. This happens against the backdrop of a deeply rooted rivalry that divides the city of Hamburg into two camps. The last duel in the top league ended on February 16, 2011, when St. Pauli won 1-0 at the Volksparkstadion, and fans remember it all too fondly.

A lot has happened, especially these days. HSV was founded in 1887 and can look back on an impressive track record: six German championships, three DFB Cup victories and two European titles. In contrast, FC St. Pauli, which was founded in 1924 as a split from the Hamburg St. Pauli gymnastics club, takes a different path. The Kiezkicker developed into the voice of a subcultural movement, while HSV is often seen as the established one, a situation that further fuels the rivalry.

The history of the rivalry

However, the rivalry between the two clubs is still relatively young and developed primarily in the 1980s. At the time, the HSV fan scene was dominated by right-wing extremist groups, which led many younger, alternative fans to FC St. Pauli. FC St. Pauli expanded its stadium, the Millerntor, and became a popular place for a more left-wing, alternative audience. On the contrary, HSV was initially laughed at and was not aware of the threat that their neighbor posed. The derby therefore has not only sporting but also political dimensions that go beyond football.

After HSV was relegated to the second division in 2018, the derbies increased and the clash had become more important for many fans. For the 2024/2025 season, HSV is aiming to stay in the Bundesliga, while St. Pauli has one of the best defenses in the league. Coach Merlin Polzin and sports director Stefan Kuntz have restructured HSV, while FC St. Pauli has put together a competitive team under Andreas Bornemann and Alexander Blessin.

The next chapter

With new signings like Jordan Torunarigha, Daniel Peretz and Yussuf Poulsen, HSV has clearly underlined its ambitions. St. Pauli, on the other hand, has strengthened its offense with Morgan Guilavogui and Andréas Hountondji. This derby on August 29, 2024 will be a spectacle not only on the field, but also in the stands: the enormous willingness to use violence, the frequent clashes in the past, as well as the impressive contingent of 1,900 police officers at the last city derby in May 2024, are an expression of the intensity of this duel.

The fan groups are solid foundations of this rivalry that has existed for at least a century. A lot has changed in this long history, but one thing remains constant: the Hamburg derby polarizes and ensures that the city is wallowing in anticipation. Who will take power in Hamburg? The outcome of this encounter could influence the mood of the city over the next few months.

The fans of both camps are waiting eagerly, and one thing is clear: the city derby has the hearts of Hamburgers firmly in its grip. Whether old wounds will be healed or new ones struck remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the stadium will shake - for some as a horn of success, for others as a battlefield of rivalry.

For more information and a deeper insight into the different histories of the two clubs, check out the reporting World as well as on Wikipedia and ARD media library.