Nicolai Remberg Named New Hamburg Captain, Succeeding Yussuf Poulsen

Hamburg's head coach, Merlin Polzin, has officially designated Nicolai Remberg as the club's new captain for the upcoming 2026/27 Bundesliga season. Remberg takes over from Yussuf Poulsen, whose inaugural season with Hamburg was significantly hampered by injuries, limiting him to a single Bundesliga start. Coach Polzin had previously indicated that Poulsen's captaincy was under review following the experienced Danish player's extended period on the sidelines last season.

The squad was informed of Polzin's decision prior to Saturday's preseason friendly against Premier League side Everton at the Volksparkstadion. Remberg becomes Hamburg's 33rd captain since the inception of the Bundesliga in 1963. Nicolas Capaldo and Albert Sambi Lokonga have been appointed as his deputies.

Poulsen will continue to be an integral part of the leadership team, providing mentorship and support to the captain and his deputies. The former RB Leipzig striker has completed the entire preseason program so far and had already expressed his willingness to contribute to the team's leadership regardless of whether he retained the captain's armband.

Remberg's Ascent Marked by Captaincy Appointment

Remberg's appointment signifies a notable milestone in his distinctive career path. The 26-year-old midfielder was playing in the Regionalliga with Preußen Münster as recently as 2022. He was instrumental in the club's promotion to the 3. Liga before transferring to Holstein Kiel, where he immediately contributed to another successful promotion campaign. Remberg then made 32 appearances in the Bundesliga for Kiel during the 2024/25 season, after which Hamburg secured his signature.

During his first season at the Volksparkstadion, Remberg increasingly took on leadership responsibilities and had already captained the team in Poulsen's absence. His leadership qualities were particularly evident following a heated Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg, where he stepped in to de-escalate a post-match confrontation involving assistant coach Richard Krohn and opposing players.

Remberg later explained that he felt compelled to intervene to prevent coaching staff from being left vulnerable during the altercation. He also publicly emphasized accountability within his own team during Hamburg's challenging battle against relegation.

Following another costly disciplinary issue, Remberg criticized the club's disciplinary record as "unintelligent and stupid" and urged the squad to return to their intended style of play.

This official decision formally recognizes a leadership role that Remberg had already been actively fulfilling, even without holding the permanent title.

Quotes on the New Captaincy

“Rambo has incredibly high expectations of himself and tries to push his limits higher every day,” stated HSV head coach Merlin Polzin in a club release. (Polzin referred to Remberg by his nickname, "Rambo." Fellow HSV midfielder Nicolas Capaldo is known as "Rocky.")

“That performance mentality is something our HSV should represent so that we can all take the next step together,” Polzin continued. “Yussi helps the trio of Rambo, Nico and Sambi – as well as the entire team – with his incredible international experience.”

“It’s something very special for me to be the new HSV captain,” Remberg added. “My career never rose sharply, but it did progress steadily because I always worked on myself. That’s something I’ll continue to exemplify as captain. I want to lead as a person on and off the pitch and always demand that our team reaches 100 percent.”