Hamburg reached the Europa League semi-final for the second season running, but were eliminated by Fulham (thus missing out on the chance to play the final at their home ground). However, a seventh-placed finish in the final table meant that the club would not be competing in Europe for the first time in 7 years. Manager Bruno Labbadia paid for the poor form with his job in late April, with technical coach Ricardo Moniz taking charge for the final two games. Armin Veh was appointed permanent manager in May.
^Petrić was born in Brčko, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina), but was raised in Switzerland and also qualified to represent Croatia internationally and represented Switzerland at U-17 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Croatia in November 2001.
^Trochowski was born in Tczew, Poland, but was raised in Germany from the age of 5 and made his international debut for Germany in October 2002.
^Castelen was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, but also qualified to represent the Netherlands internationally and made his international debut for the Netherlands in August 2004.
^Arslan was born in Paderborn, Germany, and represented Germany at U-20 and U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Turkey internationally and represented Turkey at U-19 and U-21 level.
^Demel was born in Orsay, France, but also qualified to represent the Ivory Coast internationally and made his international debut for the Ivory Coast in 2004.
^Torun was born in Hamburg, West Germany (now Germany), but also qualified to represent Turkey internationally and represented Turkey at U-15, U-16, U-17, U-18, U-21 and B level before making his international debut for Turkey in February 2011.
^Choupo-Moting was born in Hamburg, West Germany (now Germany), and represented Germany at U-19 and U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Cameroon internationally through his father and made his international debut for Cameroon in June 2010.
^Tavares was born in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France, but also qualified to represent Cape Verde and Senegal internationally through his mother and father respectively and was called up by Cape Verde in May 2008 before making his international debut for Senegal in 2009.
^Ben-Hatira was born in West Berlin, West Germany (now Berlin, Germany), and represented Germany at U-19, U-20, and U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Tunisia internationally and made his international debut for Tunisia in February 2012.