The Hertha BSC Presidential Board have reached an agreement with Pál Dárdai to return to the club and take over the role of head coach with immediate effect. The 44-year-old will take charge of the ‘Old Lady’ for a second time after his first period as coach that lasted from February 2015 until the summer of 2019. Dárdai, who played for Hertha between 1997 and 2012, will be assisted in his role by Andreas ‘Zecke’ Neuendorf and Admir Hamzagić, who previously held the same position alongside Dárdai as assistant coaches. The rest of the new coaching team is made up of fitness coaches Henrik Kuchno and Hendrik Vieth, as well as goalkeeping coach Zsolt Petry.

Carsten Schmidt said following on Monday (25 Jan): “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint a coach in Pál Dárdai, who already proved during an outstanding time for Hertha BSC that he can lead a team and establish stability. As a Herthaner through and through, he knows everyone here and won’t need any time to settle in. Pál lives for Hertha BSC and we are fully confident that he will give the team what it needs with his clear and direct nature.” The new, old head coach is eager and excited to start the challenge: “It certainly wasn’t my plan to move from the U16s back to being first team coach, but nobody needs telling what Hertha BSC means to me, so there was no doubt in my mind that I would be ready to help out in this situation. I am looking forward to the challenge and working together with the team.” Dárdai’s contract is valid until summer 2022.

(Hertha BSC)