Pal Dardai. © Swen Pförtner/dpa
Hertha BSC has clarified an important personnel matter. Despite the relegation from the Bundesliga, Pal Dardai remains head coach. The record-breaking player is expected to play a major role in the rebuild.
Berlin - Pal Dardai remains the head coach of Hertha BSC even after relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga. This was announced by the Berlin club on Thursday. "I feel that we are all working, wanting to work and will work together for the good of Hertha BSC," Dardai was quoted as saying in the statement. Initially, it only talks about the coming season.
"We are delighted that Pal will help shape the blue and white new beginning as head coach. He lives and breathes Hertha BSC and, with his diligence, dedication and passion for our club, is the right man for the challenges ahead that we will overcome together," said sporting director Benjamin Weber. However, the question of whether the Berliners will also get the license for the second division is still unresolved in view of massive financial problems.
Dardai returned to the bench in mid-April as the successor to Sandro Schwarz. However, the 47-year-old had not been able to prevent relegation to the 2nd division in the remaining six games of the season. Hertha has to leave the top flight for the seventh time as the bottom of the table. An immediate return to the first division also seems difficult at the moment, as major cuts in the squad are necessary due to the financial difficulties.
Dardai had already been in charge of Hertha from 2015 to 2019 and from January to November 2021 and twice saved them in acute relegation distress. After his first leave of absence four years ago, the Berliners had wanted to embark on a new path with investor Lars Windhorst and Jürgen Klinsmann as supervisory board members and short-term coaches, among others, which ultimately led to no success.
Dardai is regarded as an integration figure in the club with high sympathy ratings among the fans. At his presentation in April, he had said that he wanted to return to his heart club in the summer anyway as head of the youth academy. Now he is still in demand as head coach. Dpa
