Analysis: Will Hertha Berlin ever become a big city club, or are they being overtaken by city rivals?
Alamy | Hertha Investor Lars Windhorst
With his investment, entrepreneur Lars Windhorst was looking to wake Hertha Berlin up and give the German capital a club capable of competing both domestically and internationally.
Two and a half years later, Hertha have shown little improvement, despite record-high investment in the squad. The club have also failed to grow commercially, and are posting some of the highest losses in the league.
Why it matters: Unlike Hertha, their city rivals Union Berlin have enjoyed great success in recent years and become a club that others look towards for inspiration.
The perspective: Berlin is the only capital city in the top football nations without a club playing in the Champions League.
4 February 2022 - 2:02 PM
When German entrepreneur Lars Windhorst invested in Hertha Berlin in June 2019, it was with the aim of turning the club into a big city club that could compete internationally and challenge the likes of London, Madrid, and Paris.
While Berlin is on track to have a club qualified for the Champions League for the first time in more than 20 years, it is not the scenario Windhorst imagined - because it is their city rivals Union Berlin who are currently competing for European football.&
Get smarter in minutes. Straight to your inbox
21-day free trial
Activate instantly with the link we’ll send you.
