Football | Who will be promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga?

After seven years in which they were always considered the favorites for promotion, Hamburger SV has finally made it back to the Bundesliga . 1. FC Köln is also back in the top flight. But which teams will fill the vacuum left by the big clubs? Before the start of the season, four teams are emerging as promising candidates for promotion.

Hertha BSC: Back to the top flight with Reese?

Fabian Reese will be the deciding factor. Fans were pleasantly surprised when their star player extended his contract in May, making it clear that he was staying – despite repeated interest from teams in the Bundesliga and abroad. In addition to Reese's leadership skills, Hertha benefits most from his goal-scoring ability. The 27-year-old scored eleven goals last season – in just 18 games. Reese missed almost the entire first half of the season due to injury. If he stays fit this season, he could become a key player for promotion.

David Kownacki will be expected to provide the goals alongside him in attack. The Pole joins from Werder Bremen and was on loan to Fortuna Düsseldorf last year. There, he was involved in 18 goals. Maurice Krattenmacher could start behind the two strikers. The playmaker arrived on loan from FC Bayern and already caused a sensation at his last stop, Ulm. During preseason, he and Reese already showed signs of how they could work together on the pitch in the future.

Homegrown players Ibrahim Maza and Derry Sherhant, however, have left Hertha. Maza, who moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €12 million, will be especially missed. Overall, the squad nevertheless appears stronger than last year. Coach Stefan Leitl, who took over in the winter, was able to stabilize the team in the second half of the season and is confident about the new season: "When you work at a club like Hertha BSC, the motivation always has to be the maximum in the league we're in. And that means the path back to the Bundesliga has to lead."

Conclusion: Hertha enters the new second division season as the top favorite.

Fortuna Düsseldorf: Klaus Allofs demands promotion

"Fortuna Düsseldorf wants to be promoted," said sporting director Klaus Allofs, clearly stating their goal for the upcoming season. Coach Daniel Thioune agrees with his boss: "That's definitely the goal, there's no need to beat around the bush." The 51-year-old has been with Fortuna since February 2022 – and wants to return to the tactical roots of his early days. That means more pressing and more high-scoring possession. His team should become more active off the ball again after Thioune changed his system last season. "We didn't have the players for that," he explained.

New midfielder Anouar El Azzouzi has now been signed for this style of play. The 24-year-old joined from Dutch first division club PEC Zwolle for €1.5 million and is particularly strong in off-field play. He takes the place of Ísak Jóhannesson, who left Fortuna for 1. FC Köln. Alongside him, Christian Rasmussen is one of Düsseldorf's most exciting signings. The Dane joined Düsseldorf from Ajax Amsterdam and is expected to revitalize Fortuna's attack.

In defense, not only was German U21 international Jannik Siebert retained, but Christopher Lenz was also signed from Eintracht Frankfurt for the left wing. The 30-year-old, who won the Europa League with Frankfurt in 2022, is expected to strengthen the team with his experience.

The departures of Kownacki and Jóhannesson are a blow to the club. Both were among the team's best and most important players last year. It remains to be seen how quickly the new signings can compensate for the loss of the two. Daniel Thioune's teams often had good seasons, but they generally lacked consistency. The coach must get this under control to achieve the goal of promotion.

Conclusion: Düsseldorf will challenge for the top spot, but promotion could come too soon this year – unless the new signings work immediately.

VfL Bochum: Will it go straight back up?

Dieter Hecking calmed the club down after taking over last year, but was unable to prevent VfL Bochum's relegation. The 60-year-old brings the experience of 626 first and second division matches as a coach into the new season – and wants to rebuild his team. "There will be a few 'ahs' and 'ohs' from the crowd this season," the coach said, hinting at a more challenging approach to the game next season than in the Bundesliga last year. Kevin Vogt was hired specifically for this purpose: The central defender was most recently employed at Union Berlin and is known primarily for his strengths in build-up play.

A row further up the field, Hecking announced a three-man midfield: Ibrahima Sissoko and captain Matus Bero are considered established players. Both have already played together in Bochum's midfield in the Bundesliga and could become difference-makers in the second division. However, their qualities are also known to other clubs, so their stay in Bochum beyond September is not certain. "We don't yet know exactly what our squad will look like at the end of the day," said Dieter Hecking, who, however, hopes that the squad will remain the same: "The way the group looks here, it seems very homogenous."

Up front, VfL can rely on two strikers with goal-scoring experience: veteran Philipp Hofmann has scored 76 goals in the second division in his career. New signing Ibrahim Sissoko, not to be confused with midfielder Ibrahima, brings plenty of goal-scoring experience from the French second division to the Ruhr region.

Conclusion: If Bero and Ibrahima Sissoko stay at the club, Bochum will be promoted straight away.

Hannover 96: How quickly will the new signings be found?

At Hannover 96, the coach is the star. Christian Titz has transformed his former club, 1. FC Magdeburg , from a mid-table team in the 3rd division to a promotion hopeful in the 2nd division, playing the league's most beautiful football.

Titz is known for his courageous play, keeping the ball within his own ranks, and focusing on attacking. That's why he was the preferred candidate for Hannover 96: "He brings a very clear philosophy and represents the kind of football we want to see at Hannover 96," said managing director Thomas Mann at the introduction of his new coach, whose style was already evident in the preseason matches.

However, Titz has to manage a major shake-up. A lot of experience is being lost, especially in defense: Central defender Marcel Halstenberg ended his football career in the summer. His teammate Phil Neumann left the Lower Saxony club for England, joining Birmingham City on a free transfer. Goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler also left, returning to his former club, 1. FC Köln. But that's not all: German U21 international Nicolo Tresoldi has outgrown the second division and moved to Club Bruges in Belgium for €6 million – thus financing his former club's rebuilding.

Hannover fans have 16 new faces to look forward to, joining the 96ers squad. Benedikt Pichler, in particular, could quickly prove to be a help. The striker already boasted strong stats when he played for Holstein Kiel in the Bundesliga last year. His new coach's attacking style of play should particularly benefit him.

The most expensive signing is Waniss Taïbi, a central midfielder signed from Rodez AF in France's second division. The dynamic 23-year-old has the potential to become one of the league's best midfielders if he doesn't take too long to settle in.

Conclusion: Hannover will, perhaps after a short period of adjustment, play the most attractive football in the league. Whether they get promoted depends on how quickly they become a harmonious team.