The year is 1926. Hertha BSC, the third-oldest professional club in Germany, is in the final of the German championship against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. The final score is 1-4 for Berlin. A year later, they have another chance, this time against 1. FC Nürnberg, but again it is not enough. The Old Lady loses 2-0. In 1928, Hertha BSC is back in the final, this time against Hamburger SV. It is a match on even terms, but they lose 2-3. And even on their fourth attempt, in 1929, the title remains out of reach when SpVgg Greuther Fürth once again stumbles, defeating the Berliners 3-2. But this story is not just about four lost finals in a row. Above all, it tells of how Hertha BSC defied all setbacks at its fifth attempt, reaching the final again and triumphing 5-4 against Holstein Kiel in sweltering heat in front of 40,000 spectators in Düsseldorf. The long-awaited championship title was finally brought to Berlin—a moment etched in the memory of the club and its supporters. On Sunday (August 24th at 1:30pm), SV Darmstadt 98 host the Old Lady, and we'll introduce you to the club in more detail.
This episode alone clearly demonstrates the extent to which Hertha BSC is characterised by its ups and downs. After a period of turmoil and existential challenges, the Old Lady was forced to embark on the bitter journey to the second Bundesliga in May 2023 after ten years of top-flight relegation. Now, with new leadership, clear values, and a sustainable strategy, the club is attempting to rebuild its past successes and assert its place in German football.
| Top Arrivals | Top Departures |
| Dawid Kownacki (from Werder Bremen, Forward) | Ibrahim Maza (to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Midfielder) |
| Paul Seguin (from FC Schalke 04, Midfielder) | Derry Scherhant (to SC Freiburg, Winger) |
| Niklas Kolbe (from SSV Ulm, Defender) | Bradley Ibrahim (to Plymouth Argyle, Midfielder) |
| Maurice Krattenmacher (Loan from FC Bayern München, Midfielder) | Jonjoe Kenny (to PAOK Saloniki, Defender) |
| Leon Jensen (from Karlsruher SC, Mittelfeld) | Palkó Dárdai (to Puskás AFC, Winger) |
Stefan Leitl
Head coach of Hertha BSCIf one attributes some significance to the first two matchdays, one thing in particular stands out about Hertha Berlin: They have the ball – and let their opponents run. With an average of 54 percent possession, the Berlin side currently have the third-best possession percentage in the league. Only Preußen Münster (56 percent) and Dynamo Dresden (59 percent) have more possession.
Incense sticks fill the apartment with a lightly burnt scent, while a singing bowl emits vibrating and moving tones. A spiked mat underfoot improves circulation. This unusual program is complemented by exercises with a samurai sword, intended to strengthen coordination and self-confidence.
What sounds like a shamanic ritual is actually part of Michael Cuisance’s matchday preparation – as reported by BILD in October 2024. This alone shows that Cuisance is a footballer willing to try anything to achieve success. And the work with his mental coach, Benjamin Berg, is apparently paying off. „I notice that I’m relaxed and my head is clear,“ he explained.
His sporting career also testifies to his great ambition. Discovered at Borussia Mönchengladbach, he moved to the mighty FC Bayern Munich at the age of 20. But as he himself admitted in retrospect, the move came too soon: „I was very young. When you have a contract with Bayern at 18 or 19, it’s hard to stay focused. Sometimes I thought: I’m playing for Bayern, now I can do less.“ As his time there drew to a close, he was loaned to Olympique Marseille, where he faced a lot of criticism: „I experienced difficult things that would have caused some people to give up, like my year in Marseille,“ Cuisance told the portal transfermarkt.de.
After several stops in Italy, he finally found his way to VfL Osnabrück. There, his career took off again, and Cuisance emphasised that he had rediscovered his love of football. In the summer of 2024, he moved to Hertha BSC – and now he seems to have settled there. In the 2024/25 season, he became a key player, contributing six goals and seven assists in 32 second division games.
„Micka possesses exceptional qualities on the ball and has already given our fans a great deal of pleasure with his style of play and creativity. Furthermore, he fully identifies with the club and the city,“ said sporting director Benjamin Weber upon Cuisance’s contract extension in May 2025. Hertha fans are certainly delighted that Cuisance continues to enchant fans with his football. Like a true shaman.
Darmstadt 98 lost to Hannover 96 while playing with ten men and must continue to wait for their first win of this second division season. Read our analysis to find out what positives remain and why Darmstadt 98 had factored in setbacks on their chosen path.
Around the time of the home game against Hannover 96 on Sunday (August 30th), the Jonathan Heimes Square was officially inaugurated. Before kickoff, club president Markus Pfitzner and Martin Heimes, father of Jonathan Heimes, who died of cancer about ten years ago, gave speeches highlighting "Johnny's" importance and his commitment to people with cancer.
The Lilien Team Marathon is not just about athletic performance and the shared experience around the Böllenfalltor stadium – but also about making a difference together.
The SV Darmstadt 98 U21 team drew 2-2 (0-1) against SV Unter-Flockenbach. After a heated home game, the young Lilies had to settle for a frustrating, but ultimately deserved, draw. In this extremely balanced league, Patrick Kurt's team continues to grow week by week, gaining valuable experience.
An emotional match with many controversial moments unfolded on Sunday afternoon at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Ultimately, Darmstadt suffered their first home defeat of the young season. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you.
Tried everything, but to no avail: SV 98 came up short in their home game against Hannover 96. The final score was 1-0 (0-0) to the visitors, whilst the Lilies had to play with ten men after Vukotic was sent off in the 20th minute.
Home game against Hannover! On matchday 3, Darmstadt 98 will host the ambitious Lower Saxons at the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor. Florian Kohfeldt has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the victory in Jena. Hiroki Akiyama replaces the suspended Kai Klefisch, while Nicolas Verkooijen (making his first start) and Yosuke Furukawa start in place of Carlo Sickinger and Manolo Merx.
Weekend, Lilies fever! On Sunday (August 30th/1:30pm), the Lilies have their third matchday on the schedule. Hannover 96, the club from the Lower Saxon capital, will be visiting the Bölle. What do the two head coaches have to say before kickoff? Who will be refereeing the match? And where can you watch the game? As usual, we've compiled all the important information about the match against Hannover in our "Matchday Guide"
One day before their home game against Hannover 96, Darmstadt 98 have announced another new signing. William Mikelbrencis will now wear the SV 98 jersey. The 22-year-old Frenchman was under contract with Hamburger SV until June 30th.
In the press conference before the second home game of the still young season, our head coach spoke about, among other things, our team's attacking play and the past week. As usual, you can find the most important statements before the match against Hannover 96 (August 30th/1:30pm) here for you.
A second-division team on the Berlin Mount Olympus: Hannover 96 achieved something unique in 1992. On May 23, the Lower Saxony club defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the DFB Cup final, securing another major title in the club's history 38 years after their German championship win in 1954. Hannover became the first and, to this day, only "true" second-division team to win the DFB Cup, causing one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
