Thanks Dardai!!

A typical Dardai picture with him focused on the ball

Pal Dardai already has his name written in stone in Hertha's long history. On Sunday (15.05.2011), he will officially bid farewell to the club as a player during the final game of the season, in front of a sellout crowd (74,000) at home to Augsburg; A fitting way to say goodbye to a true club legend. Good news for all Hertha fans attending the game came from Coach Markus Babbel as he said this week: "Pal will play!" We thought it time to pick out some of the highlights of the seasoned-Hungarian's career. We over here in the UK are overjoyed at having the chance to see Pal play his last game for the club.

As Pal Dardai joined the capital city club in January 1996, no one could have possibly envisaged that the 20 year old youngster would become of the club's most important ever players. With the likes of Michael Preetz, Alex Alves, Marcelinho or Marko Pantelic, there have been more headline-grabbing players at Hertha. But Dardai was a workhorse allowing the others to shine while he worked his socks off in midfield. Without players like Dardai, good teams simply cannot function. He is known and respected by friend and foe for the amount of hard work and effort he put into every game. Dardai has seen coaches come and go at the Olympic stadium in Berlin, but the one with a special place in Pal's heart is Jürgen Röber, of whom he says: "It was a special relationship. He was like a foster father to me."

"No thanks Bayern"

If you ask him about the sporting highlight of his career, Pal quickly replies: "Playing in Hertha's best-ever midfield alongside Tretschok, Wosz, Deisler and Hartmann. It was great fun playing with them." And that fun also bore fruit, as Hertha sensationally finished third in the Bundesliga table and qualified for the Champions League, just two years after winning promotion from division two. Dardai's solid performances also attracted the interest of renowned clubs like Bayern München, whom Dardai turned down as they placed a contract in front of him with nothing missing but a signature.

Team-player Dardai has also various records to his name following his long career. His 286 Bundesliga appearances and his 44 games for the capital city club in Europe are right up there among the Berlin players of the past. In the all-time appearances table, Dardai is in third place behind Hertha legends Holger Brück (301) and Michael Sziedat (298). Despite his gritty way of playing the game, Pal was only ever shown a yellow or red card once.

Always a "Herthaner"
That way of playing also took its toll. Because of an on-going ankle problem, Dardai was unable to feature in Hertha's first team set-up during their promotion campaign this season. During the winter break he joined the reserve team, and enjoyed success right away. With him in the team, the side under Coach Karsten Heine enjoyed a six game unbeaten run from the off. During that time, Dardai also got his coaching badges in Hungary. He was capped 61 times by Hungary.

The Hertha crowd favorite will officially say farewell to his playing days at Hertha, and surely a few tears will be shed, because it is hard to say goodbye to such a respected and much loved battler like Pal Dardai. But it is only a farewell to the first team spotlight, for he will remain at the club working with the youth sides at his beloved Hertha.

Source: http://www.herthabsc.de/index.php?id=2075&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=10090&cHash=4212bb89a11d7e5f7b9cdc24c43d88c0

@ChrisKemp89
@HerthaBerlinUK

Hertha Add Champions League Kraft

Hertha sign Thomas Kraft

Earlier this week, Hertha added the signing of Thomas Kraft from Bayern München on a free transfer. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Berlin outfit. Babbel clearly showing signs of addign to and implementing a young and enthusiastic squad, to tackle their return to the Bundesliga. Such signings are pleasing to see and are welcomed by HerthaBerlinUK.

With Kraft's Champions League experience he will add steel and know-how to the Hertha squad. On a free transfer too, it is hoped that he will make a great impact between the sticks for Hertha next season.

"We're delighted that we've managed to get Thomas Kraft on board at Hertha BSC", sporting director Michael Preetz said.

"Great challenge"

"When the opportunity arises to sign a player of his class on a free transfer, it would be negligent not to do something about it. A lot of clubs wanted Thomas Kraft, because he's a keeper of great ability and potential. Which makes us all the happier that he'll be playing for Hertha BSC from now on", Preetz expanded.

For his part, Thomas Kraft said, "Hertha BSC is a great challenge for me. Sporting director Michael Preetz and coach Markus Babbel completely won me over in our talks with their strategy and vision for the club. I'm very happy to be part of the Hertha BSC project in the Bundesliga. I really took in the enthusiasm and euphoria that's grown around Hertha in Berlin, and those were further factors in my decision to sign a four-year contract here."

Thomas Kraft

Date of birth:	22.07.1988
Place of birth:	Kirchen
Age:	23
Height:	1,87
Nationality:	Germany
Position:	Goalkeeper
Foot:	Right

Source: http://www.bundesliga.de/en/liga2/news/2010/meldung.php?f=182857.php

@ChrisKemp89

@HerthaBerlinUK

Hertha Heart's are Hurting

Promotion-hopefuls Hertha were left with egg on their faces on Saturday afternoon. Markus Babbel's side lost the Berlin derby 1-2, in front of a sell out crowd of 74,244 at the Olympic stadium. Hertha's lead at the top of division has now been cut to just two points, after what was their first defeat since the winter break.

Hertha boss Markus Babbel recalled defender Peter Niemeyer after suspension, meaning that fan favourite Swiss midfielder Fabian Lustenberger reverted to the bench. That was the only change to the side which wiped the floor away to Bielefeld last time out, winning 3-1. After losing 0-2 at home to Paderborn, Union coach Uwe Neuhaus rang the changes, Younga-Mouhani, Thomik and Savran made way for Kohlmann, Peitz and Kolk. His side had only won once away from home this season before kick off, so the huge contingent of Union fans (over 15,000) who made the short trip across the capital city had their fingers crossed for a change in fortunes.

The huge crowd inside the glorious Olypiastadion was the perfect backdrop for the second-ever meeting between the two sides. The first meeting earlier in the season ended in a 1-1 draw. The game was over for Union's Parensen after only four minutes. He came off worse after a clash of heads with Niemeyer. Thomik replaced the dazed defender. An early sign that this would be a hard fought close encounter, with much pride at stake.

 Hertha looked the more organised side at first, despite the strong winds blowing through the stadium. The division two leaders combined nicely, keeping the ball on the deck, with short precise passes, in contrast to the ugly football deployed by the visitors, who tried their luck with long hopeful balls to their front line. Hertha's Brazilian midfielder Ronny looked dangerous at set pieces and one of those set pieces led to the opening goal. Ronny crossed the ball deep into the Union area. Peitz failed to clear his lines and the ball fell to Mijatovic. The Hertha skipper crossed the deflected ball to the far post, where Hubnik opened his Hertha scoring account with a close range header.

 That goal seemed to panic the visitors and Hertha kept up the pressure, pressing for a second goal. Höttecke produced a stunning save to deny Ramos on 18 minutes. Then Hubnik missed a back heel pass by Ramos only a couple of metres out from goal, and a gilt-edged opportunity went begging. To rub salt into the wounds, the Union keeper also parried a Ramos effort within the same minute (19). Had Ramos put the ball into the back of the onion net, this would be a far more pleasing match report and weekend!

Union survived that period of Hertha domination and began to look more comfortable on the ball, especially after the home side seemed content to sit back and wait to counter attack the visitors - a ploy which rarely works yet regularly used. Union players and fans cried "penalty!" close to the half hour mark, as the former Hertha player Ede let fly with a shot which hit Mijatovic on the hand. The referee was right not to award the Köpenik outfit a spot kick on 29 minutes, with such cries for a penalty both desperate and laughable.

 Hertha then went through a period of doing almost nothing, apart from a wayward effort by Ramos, and were punished for their apathy on 37 minutes. Stuff pumped a long ball forward where it was met by the chest (and what looked like the upper arm) of Mosquera, who turned his body around defender Hubnik, before stunning the majority of the massive crowd by superbly blasting the ball home with Hertha keeper Aerts helpless. The game was nicely poised at 1-1 as Dr. Drees blew time on the opening half. A contentious goal to get Union back into the game.

 Both teams came out for the second half unchanged, and the torrential rain which came seemed to suit the visitors more than it did the home side. The opening half chance of the new half was missed by Peitz on 48 minutes. At the other end, on 59 minutes, Ramos put all of his body into an effort, but to no avail. Hertha were the more classy side, but Union compensated that deficit by grimly battling for every blade of grass. Raffael went on one of his superb trademark runs, setting up Ramos at the end of it. The Columbian striker however missed a good chance from only a few metres out while unmarked.

 Often in football, if you don't make your chances count, you will end up paying the price. That was indeed the case for Hertha: Mattuschka curled a free kick through the Hertha wall, past Aerts (who got fingers on the ball) and into the left hand side of goal. A goal against the run of play and a real hammer blow on 71 minutes. Obviously, Hertha threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but Friend could only nod the ball into the grateful arms of Höttecke.. At the other end Peitz almost put the game beyond Hertha, but somehow nodded over from five metres out. Four minutes from time Ramos was cursing his luck again as Stuff unwittingly deflected his shot away from the danger zone. Not long after that, the ref blew time on what was a somewhat fortunate Union victory to say the least.

 So bragging rights go to Union fans, however, it must be said that surely....SURELY Hertha will have the last laugh come May whilst celebrating promotion as Champions.

@ChrisKemp89
@HerthaBerlinUK


Match details:

Hertha BSC: Aerts – Lell, Hubnik, Mijatovic, Kobiashili – Niemeyer (86. Lustenberger) – Rukavytsya, Raffael, Ronny (80. Domovchiyski)– Friend, Ramos


1. FC Union Berlin: Höttecke – Parensen (4. Thomik), Stuff, Göhlert, Kohlmann – Peitz – Menz, Mattuschka, Ede (57. Benyamina) – Kolk (86. Brunnemann), Mosquera


Goals: 1:0 Hubnik (13.) 1-1 Mosquera (37.) 1-2 Mattuschka (71.)
Booked: Lell, Raffael / Peitz, Benyamina, Kohlmann
Referee: Dr. Jochen Drees
Att: 74,244 (sold out)

"News at Torsten"

Source: www.union-foto.de

The FC Union fans sing his name with pride and gusto, well, I'm sure the few hundred fans that they have sing his name anyway. Torsten Mattuschka is the main man across the road with Union. He is the playmaker and the crowd favourite at the club. His ten goals last season helped to ensure that Union had little to do with a relegation battle during last seasons predictable average division two campaign. On Saturday (05.02.2011, 13.00), Union make the short trip to visit Berlin Royalty at the sold out Olympic stadium to take on table-toppers Hertha in a round 21 division two clash. Torsten Mattuschka is captain of the side that hails from the Berlin neighbourhood of Köpenick. herthabsc.de spoke to the Union skipper before the historic game.

herthabsc.de: Torsten, your team had the chance to leave the relegation zone against Paderborn last time out. What were the team missing on reflection?
Mattuschka: It is always hard to say. The will was there, but we never managed to find our way into the game. Then you concede from a set piece, and get hit on the break as you go in search of an equaliser. Such things happen and it annoyed us.

What are your strengths and where do you see room for improvement?
Mattuschka: One strength is how we stick together as a team. It would of course help if we had everyone available for selection for a long period of time. That has not been the case so far this season.

Union recently suffered two straight division two losses. What has to happen in order to prevent a third at the Olympic stadium on Saturday?
Mattuschka: I won't go into detail about our plans, but we have proved this season that we are capable of matching the top teams, and we want to do so again on Saturday.

Why is the game against Hertha so special?
Mattuschka: The Olympic stadium is not sold out very often. As far as I know only when Bayern visit. Now it is the impending derby which has filled it. It is for such games that you become a player. We are very much looking forward to the red and white end of the stadium on Saturday.

Do you in Köpenick get news of Hertha matters too?
Mattuschka: Of course you follow second division matters, and that happens to be the division Hertha are playing in. Apart from that we don't bother. Hertha are on the expected path of certain promotion to the top flight.

How many Union fans will be at the derby?
Mattuschka: I believe that our official ticket contingent was 12,000. They were sold so quickly that I imagine a lot of fans bought tickets on the open market. I think we will have between 15,000 and 20,000 cheering us on.

As a player you are used to playing in front of lots of people. Is a crowd like Saturday's of over 74,000 something special?
Mattuschka: Of course, nobody here has ever experienced such a crowd. It is a huge shop window to present your club in. It doesn't get any better.

You hail from Cottbus. Which is the greater rivalry in and around Berlin?
Mattuschka: Well, Cottbus is quite a distance away from Berlin. I played mostly in their reserve team during my time there. A proper derby can only be between teams hailing from the same town. That is the greatest rivalry.

How will the game on Saturday end?
Mattuschka: Be prepared to be surprised!


So, clearly Torsten Mattuschka is quietly confident of an upset against the mighty Hertha BSC. Over here in the UK, we can see nothing but a Hurricane named Hertha destroying not only Union's frail back four, but also the hearts of many a supporter from Kopenick.


Hertha BSC UK Fan Club Prediction


Hertha BSC 4-0 FC Union Berlin

@ChrisKemp89
@HerthaBerlinUK

Love really 'Aerts' without you....

As taken from the club website, an interview with Hertha's very own big show, Mikael Aerts.

Hertha Stay Top!

Hertha recorded their third straight game since the winter break, pushing themselves 5 points clear at the top. On Sunday afternoon, the capital city kickers beat Arminia Bielefed 3-1, in a round 20 division two clash in front of 20,017 at the Schüco-Arena. The victory was well-deserved and the Hertha goals were scored by the Brazilian brothers Ronny and Raffael, affectionately described as the 'Chuckle Brothers' over here in England. The win keeps Hertha on top of the second division table, five points and a place in front of FC Augsburg.

2:0 - Hertha win at last!

Hertha finally ended their dismal run of three consecutive division two defeats with a well-deserved 2-0 round 16 home win over pre-match table-toppers Erzgebirge Aue, in front of another mammoth crowd of 45,892 at the ice-cold Olympic stadium on Sunday afternoon. The capital city side are now level on points with Augsburg who we play this weekend, but behind them on goal difference.