The 2020-21 campaign was a season of soaring hope and ultimate heartbreak for Hamburger SV, as The Rothosen led the 2. Bundesliga for much of the year before suffering a catastrophic late-season collapse that resulted in a fourth-place finish for the third consecutive season. Spearheading the attack was the prolific veteran striker Simon Terodde, whose phenomenal 24 goals proved decisive in a campaign built on high attacking output and the promise of a long-awaited return to the Bundesliga. However, this painful near-miss, which saw the team 'bottle' promotion yet again, remains a dark and defining chapter in the club's recent history of top-flight absence.