Club Haberleri

As a rule, games against former employers are something special for all those involved, especially if it is for the first time. Sandro Schwarz is no exception here. Hertha’s head coach, who has been in charge of the club since the summer, will meet 1. FSV Mainz 05 for the first time as Hertha head coach this Friday evening (16.09.22, 20:30 CEST). Mainz is not only a club he played for, but also where, from 2013 to 2019, the 43-year-old worked his way up from the U19 team, to the second team, before managing the first team side. “I have a lot to thank the club for; it was a very intense time – both as a player and as a coach,” the coach makes no secret of his relationship to the Zerofivers. As well as the head coach, both Jean-Paul Boëtius and Suat Serdar come up against their former sides. Despite these many connections, the Blue-Whites are not going to Mainz just to catch up with old friends. “Mainz compete hard and are a very physical side – it shows that they are a very good Bundesliga side and are difficult to work out how to play against. It will be a very interesting game,” emphasised Fredi Bobic. herthabsc.com has summarised the key points. Schwarz and Bobic spoke about…

In May 2009, Germany won the U17 European Championship. Just over 13 years later, only two members of that triumphant squad remain under contract in the Bundesliga: World Cup winner Mario Götze, currently at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Hertha’s captain, Marvin Plattenhardt. Despite only being named captain in July, ‘Platte’ has had the development of his squad and teammates on his mind from day one. “There’s been a real swing of momentum which you can feel, and everybody has been taken by it. The support we’ve been getting from outside is palpable, and the fans are right behind us – that’s a great feeling for us all to have,” explained the 30-year-old. The seven-time Germany international also feels the trust placed in him when he wears the captain’s armband: “It’s a huge honour for me to lead the team out onto the pitch every week. I’ve always said that I see myself in the role of captain, but now it’s all about growing into it bit by bit over time,” said Hertha’s number 21. Plattenhardt sat down with herthabsc.com to chat about his magical left foot, the upcoming trip to Mainz and an eventful summer.

Head coach Marco Rose and players Dani Olmo, David Raum, Janis Blaswich and Marcel Halstenberg share their thoughts after the 3-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim.

A familiar face returns: Ahead of Friday night’s clash with Hertha BSC (20:30 CEST) and the...

VfBfairplay actions at Saturday’s home match against 1. FC Köln raised €56,000 in aid of the earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria.

It looked like a drawing of an ancient battlefield when seen from the top of that monumental stadium, cleaved out of the granite itself, sunken into the bedrock of the Earth. A Portuguese journalist remarked later that it was lucky the lift worked, because using it was like ascending up from some Viking purgatory, and when it broke, everything was plunged into chaos. “And it breaks,” he said with a smile and a shake of the head, “all the time.”

After over four and a half years at VfL Wolfsburg, Renato Steffen is embarking on a new chapter with FC Lugano after the Wolves reached an agreement with the Swiss first-division side. Steffen joined the Green-and-Whites from FC Basel in January 2018 and experienced something of a rollercoaster ride at the club, taking part in the relegation play-off before going on to help VfL reach both the Europa League and Champions League. The 30-year-old midfielder made 144 appearances for the Wolves, scoring 18 goals.

Diego Simeone’s side spurned the chance to win the match when Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky saved Yannick Carrasco’s spot kick before Saul Niguez’s follow up strike hit the crossbar.

“Cologne are an unpleasant opponent. They play with great commitment and celebrate every challenge they win,” said U19 head coach Mike Tullberg of Viktoria Cologne, who occupy seventh spot in the table with nine points from six matches and already proved themselves to be a huge nuisance to Borussia in last season’s 0-0 draw. More hard work lies ahead of captain Nnamdi Collins & Co., who came from behind in style to draw 3-3 with Manchester City in the UEFA Youth League in midweek.