Hertha Berlin is experiencing a tragic season, struggling to stay among the elite. It is not so long ago that she announced that she wanted to become a German big club so that she could fight for Bayern for the title. She even brought some quite expensive reinforcements. Why has the Berlin team never come a little closer to its ambitions?
It was written in June 2019, it was supposed to be a historic moment. Hertha Berlin was owned by German businessman Lars Windhorst and his investment firm Tennor Holding BV, the largest financial transaction in Bundesliga history.
The motivation was clear. The new owner of the Berlin club claimed that he wanted to make Hertha a club worthy of Berlin, the German capital. Compared to other European leagues, only in Germany’s top competition did it happen that there was no stable and competitive team from the capital in the league for a long time. Hertha won her last title in 1931, the oldest club in Germany.
The goal was to compete with Bayern and make Hertha one of the best clubs not only in Germany but also in Europe. Almost three years have passed and not only hope is gone, but there has not been much optimism in the club for a long time.
Hertha’s plans were great
Just days after the club’s sale was completed, longtime coach and club legend Pál Dardai was recalled. Hertha was trying to get a big name for the coach. However, Erik Ten Hag or André Villas-Boas declined the offer.
Dardaie was thus replaced by Ante Čovič, who worked for the reserve team for a long time and very successfully. He was a progressive and promising coach. And that he would have the weakest staff? That is definitely not the case. Although he didn’t have a team that could fight for the cups, he certainly didn’t have to fight for retention either. But it happened.
Komedie s Klinsmannem
As already mentioned, Čovič did not do very well as a coach. It was therefore replaced in November when Hertha was in descending waters. Reimbursement? The legendary Jürgen Klinsmann. He started to make great demands, he had to fulfill his ambitions, he had enough experience for that. The winter transfer period looked like that.
In January, Krzysztof Piatek, Matheus Cunha and Lucas Tousart joined Hertha’s team. However, Tousart joined the team until the new season. But he arrived from the famous Lyon, it was a clear signal.
After all, the French midfielder himself claimed that Hertha could undoubtedly be a German PSG and be completely dominant in his league. He apparently had no idea how he was going to get confused. Although Klinsmann brought him to the team, he did not play under him.
Klinsmann coached only ten matches for the team. He won three, three times he drew a draw. He got Herth out of the descending waters. But then he resigned. In addition, he announced it via social networks. Reason? He did not feel enough support and cohesion, the club said he did little to keep. So it was all over in February.
Where is the problem?
Since June 2019, when Hertha declared great ambitions, four coaches have been on the coaching bench so far. After Čovič and Klinsmann, Bruno Labbadia came to put out the fire, which was replaced in January 2021 by the returned Pál Dardai.
None of the four coaches were able to fulfill their ambitions. Don’t even come close. Thus, after a long 12 years in office, sports director Michael Preetz, who finished in January 2021, had to put his head on the log.
According to several experts, Preetz is the reason why Hertha suffers so much. Although he can boast that thanks to him, the Berlin team is responsible for the record spending in the January transfer period, but it did not lead to anything.
Between 2009 and 2021, Preetz fired 11 coaches, spending over 200 million euros, which is not reflected anywhere. Mostly no reinforcements caught on. At least the last time Hertha spent the most of her history.
The 4 most expensive transfers of club history took place in the first season after the arrival of a rich investor, and not a single player became an important part of the team, let alone leading the team to success.
Preetz could hardly determine any suitable philosophy. He didn’t bet on young talent or finished players. He did not do well in the election of coaches. He simply got the money and didn’t know how to handle it. Absolute chaos and decline began to reign in the club.
Will a change of sports director help?
Preetz has not been with the club since January, replacing him with Fredi Bobic, who did a fantastic job between 2016 and 2021 in Eintracht Frankfurt, which not only plays really attractive football, but also gains interesting players, sells well and was competitive.
For a ridiculous less than 42 million euros, Bobic brought players such as André Silva, Luka Jovič, Ante Rebič and Sébastian Haller to Frankfurt. A little later, he made 100 million on this trio. In addition, Frankfurt also made it to Europe, earning more money.
Immediately after arriving in Hertha, Bobic started selling unnecessary players and, conversely, did his best to get a chance for youth and talent. But he didn’t have hands. In the summer, for example, he couldn’t fire Coach Dardaie, even if he wanted to. He could hardly change the strategy and processes within the club. It was enough for Dardai to keep down, which he managed.
Nevertheless, he lost his position in November 2021. Even the people above Bobice could not overlook the fact that the path to success with Dardai did not lead. But in November, Bobic didn’t do much to find a coach. He brought in at least the descent specialist Tayfun Korkut.
Bobic is in office or It’s time for a mockery, now it can only begin. BUT…
Currently, the goal is clear. Hertha has something to do to stay. He is currently in 16th place, which only guarantees a play-off duel. However, he will definitely want to fight for non-descending places. But if the rescue succeeds, Herth can only have a bright future ahead of him.
Bobic is starting to take office and it is likely that Korkut will not stay on the bench after the season. He could be replaced by Niko Kovac or Roger Schmidt, whose contract ends in PSV Eindhoven this summer.
Why Kovač? Berlin is his hometown, he played over 200 matches for Herth, and he also worked successfully in Frankfurt under Bobice. Together, they could take care of Hertha’s bright future.
In addition, Bobic reformed virtually the entire scouting department, bringing two scouts from Frankfurt, another from Arsenal. A broader talent search network is being built.
However, everything has its “buts”. In this case, it is essential to keep the aces among the elite. The owner of Windhorst is dissatisfied with the lack of decision-making powers and results. He doesn’t want to pump more money into the team without knowing it makes sense.
Bobic could be the one. But it must gain trust, not just the results. If anyone has the ability to fulfill Hertha’s ambitions, it’s him.
Resources: Hertha BSC, Bulinews, picture, transfer market
