Hertha BSC is now headed by a former ultra as president. The members of the capital club dared a small revolution and chose the communications manager Kay Bernstein.

Hertha BSC is now headed by a former ultra as president. The members of the capital club dared a small revolution and chose the communications manager Kay Bernstein.

The 41-year-old received 1,670 out of 3,016 valid votes and prevailed against the preferred candidate of the supervisory board and long-time CDU member of the Bundestag, Frank Steffel, and the blatant outsider Marvin Brumme.

“Our old lady is in intensive care. Now we can heal them holistically from the inside and make them healthy, »said Bernstein in the City Cube of the Berlin trade fair after his election. A huge cheer erupted at the announcement. “We need an honest, real restart,” he had previously said. After Bernstein’s speech there had been long applause and standing ovations.

The election had been eagerly awaited after 14 years under Werner Gegenbauer. It’s a victory for the active fan scene and a crushing defeat for the club’s establishment. Bernstein was once the lead singer in the East Stand of the Bundesliga soccer club and is still involved in the fans’ social projects today. He has no experience at the head of a Bundesliga club or as an official.

Bernstein said he couldn’t do it alone. He wants to build a team, it needs a truce with everyone in and around the club, which he also included investor Lars Windhorst.

The Berliners have turbulent months behind them. Only in the relegation did the Berliners manage to stay up in the Bundesliga under Felix Magath at the end of May. Just one day later, the controversial President Werner Gegenbauer resigned after 14 years in office. Hertha is in the midst of a massive change in personnel, but most of the key positions have now been filled.