Hertha BSC is sure to draw attention: The new president is an ex-ultra, Kay Bernstein is creating a novelty in the Bundesliga. What is a tough rejection of the previous club work will be a lot of work for the 41-year-old. In addition to the relationship with the fans, many urgent tasks await.
It was just two months ago that there was radio silence at Hertha BSC. Fans and squad were divided after some ultras forced the players to take off their shirts after the humiliating defeat by 1. FC Union Berlin. They are not worthy of representing the club. Since then there has been reconciliation, the professionals have managed to stay in the Bundesliga – with the support of vociferous fans – and now one is the new leader of the club who used to be in the curve himself.
President Kay Bernstein was elected at the general meeting on Sunday, 1670 votes went to the 41-year-old. In 1994, according to his own statement, he was at a Hertha game for the first time, describes himself as a “child of the curve”, has been a member of the club since 2005, previously co-founded the ultra group “Harlekins Berlin” and was the lead singer in the east curve. He changed his seat a long time ago, the owner of a communications agency is now sitting in the grandstand. Where he will continue to follow his club’s games in the future. But then no longer as a private person and fan, but as president.
His election is a paradigm shift. At Hertha BSC and in German football in general. His long-time predecessor Werner Gegenbauer (2006 to 2022) ruled from above, always brash and nonchalant, he didn’t let himself be said much, he didn’t get along with investor Lars Windhorst at all, and also maintained a confrontational course via the media. The entrepreneur in facility and building management, provider of security services and hall operator grew up in the dignified district of Wilmersdorf in the former West Berlin. But he was not popular in the club, when he was re-elected in 2020 he received only 54 percent of the votes – as the only candidate. He forestalled the fans’ deselection in May with his resignation after a member had submitted an application for deselection: “We have become a laughingstock in Germany. A permanent European Cup participant has become a relegation candidate. The club has a catastrophic external image and several Delivered scandals,” Sebastian Stargard explained.
Gegenbauer’s successor, on the other hand, comes from the eastern part of the city, from Marzahn, is young and not a crook with politics and business, a start-up entrepreneur. Bernstein knows the concerns of the fans, emphasizes the importance of community for the club, wants one. He’s even closer and in there than Peter Fischer at Eintracht Frankfurt, who is already celebrating in the midst of the fans before the European Cup title.
“Means a heavy burden”
The 3000 voters rejected the “Keep it up”. The election is a resounding slap in the face for years of decoupling the club’s management from the base. The only remaining opponent of Bernstein was Frank Steffel. CDU politician, a man who the “Spiegel” considered in 2001 with the uncharming headline “Berlin’s unshakeable loser”, previous president of the handball Bundesliga club Füchse Berlin. The 56-year-old surprisingly announced his candidacy just two weeks ago, after which a lot sounded like political maneuvering, as he had several other candidates behind him – and the controversial investor Lars Windhorst would have preferred to work with him.
Bernstein’s choice brings a lot of attention to Hertha BSC. Instead of compassionate attention, this time it’s curious, respectful attention. The many negative headlines due to the ongoing chaos are in the past for the time being, the desolate team, the many changes of coach, the investor wrangling, the resignations in the executive floor are a thing of the past. With Sandro Schwarz comes a new coach who seems to share the wishes of the fans, with Bernstein a president who is watched over by the active fan scene throughout Germany.
“Companion for many years, now president of a big traditional club. All the best and good luck,” tweeted Jan-Henrik Gruszecki, who made a name for himself as an ultra and fan spokesman for Borussia Dortmund and is now head of the strategy and culture department at BVB. “From our point of view, this is a good thing, a great thing. It was a good day for the fans,” Sig Zelt from “Pro Fans” told SID. And Helen Breit from “Our Curve” is sure that the “public pressure from fans” is noticed. “You can’t downplay her voice like it was before the pandemic.” Bernstein said after his election: “It’s a heavy burden to be the first to go this route and jump out of the Ultra generation. But for me, the Herthaner is above it. Only then are you the fan, the Ultra, the Kuttenträger, the grandstand seater. But the Herthaner is much more important.”
His event agency has the slogan “#just make it”, which is how Bernstein wants to approach his new job. He is withdrawing from his agency, handing over the management to his wife, who has previously been an authorized signatory, and concentrating fully on Hertha BSC. The first executive committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and will be attended by his new deputy, Fabian Drescher, who has experience and was a member of the old executive committee. Bernstein has an initial goal: “The main task will be to turn the Presidium into a tight-knit bunch with team spirit that Hertha sets an example.”
“Old lady is in intensive care”
For the club’s new boss, it’s not just about fan loyalty. He has to prove himself in club politics, has to find a basis with the sporting director, Fredi Bobic, who has previously worked with a completely different type of president. Must come to terms with Windhorst, investor and majority owner of GmbH & Co. KGaA, to which the club’s professional department is outsourced. His relationship with Gegenbauer in particular was confrontational, opposed rather than together, which is why Bernstein says, not entirely out of the blue: “It can only get better than it used to be.” Must advance the urgent stadium issue, on which there are now constructive signals from the city after years of blockade. Must decide whether there should be a new CEO on the board of directors. Must choose who follows CFO Ingo Schiller, who will voluntarily retire in October. Quite a lot for the novice, who is not only watched by a club but by the whole of Germany.
He is aware of this. It’s about nothing less than turning the association’s work inside out. “The presidency must become more approachable. Let’s talk to the people, that’s what matters.” And he’s not afraid. “Our old lady is in intensive care,” Bernstein said shortly after his election. “We can now heal them from the inside and make them healthy holistically. Everyone can and must help so that we can regain our blue and white soul.” In any case, the spark jumped over at the general meeting. The active fans, who had placed themselves in the front rows, jumped up after the election results were announced and spontaneously chanted “HaHoHe, Hertha BSC” and “Hertha BSC, that’s what our club is called, Hertha BSC, it will always be”. It has been a long time since a presidential election has triggered so much enthusiasm.