World Football Club Crests

Founded in 1892, Hertha Berlin has been the German capital’s only continuous representative in the Bundesliga since its formation in 1963, something that ought to guarantee an influx of sponsorship money and an equal flood of incoming talent. On top of this, Hertha play in the country’s second biggest stadium, the Olympiastadion, where an average of 50,000 spectators watch every home match. So why haven’t Hertha Berlin – whose name and colours are inspired by a childhood trip on the steamer Hertha by one of the club’s founder’s – established themselves as a powerhouse in German football?

Hertha’s history is marked by several dark periods. During the Hitler years German football was restructured, with the formation of 16 regional top divisions. Hertha achieved success with three league wins (1935, 1937 and 1944) under a Nazi flag; the club chairman, Hans Pfeifer, was a prominent member of the party.

It took until the creation of the Bundesliga in 1963 before German football could seriously pick itself up after the war. Hertha took part in the first Bundesliga season but were forceably relegated in 1965 after a bribery scandal. The club returned to the premier division in 1968, but three years later, in 1971, things took another serious downturn. Once again Hertha was involved in a match-fixing scandal, this time with debts running into the millions.

Thus, Hertha have never given themselves a proper chance to establish themselves as a real force in German football. After the latest bribery scandal, the club has played mainly in the premier division, although since 1980 they have spent a total of 17 seasons outside the top flight.

CLUB: Hertha Berliner SC

NICKNAMES: Die alte Dame (the Old Lady) and Die Blau-Weißen (the Blue and Whites)

FOUNDED: 1892

STADIUM: Olympiastadion, Berlin (74,475 capacity)

HISTORIC PLAYERS: Otto Rehhagel, Gábor Király, Arne Friedrich, Michael Preetz and Marcelinho

1892–1923. Hertha Berlin was founded as BFC Hertha 92. Both the name and colours were inspired by a steamer: one of the club’s founders, Fritz Lindner, had made an unforgettable trip as a boy on the steamer Hertha, its own name a variant of Nerthus, the fertility goddess of German mythology. The blue and white colours were taken from the boat’s funnel. Hertha’s first emblem survived until 1923, when the club merged with Berliner Sport-Club and was given its present name.

1933–1948. The historic first flag was introduced the year that the Nazi Hans Pfeifer took over Hertha. This emblem represented the club until three years after the Second World War.

1960–1968 and 1974–1987. At the start of the ’60s this much discussed emblem was introduced, one that was rumoured to mimic the form of a disco ball in order to attract younger supporters. The crest was used for two relatively long spells.

1995–2012. The flag has cropped up in different guises over the years. This emblem has been one of the more unpopular ones among fans because Berlin’s name appears twice within the ring, since BSC stands for Berliner Sport-Club. In 2012, pressure from the fans led to its demise.

1987–1995 and 2012–present. Hertha suppporters’ dissatisfaction with the emblem that was used between 1995 and 2012 helped ensure the return of the unadorned flag that had previously represented the club. The director of sports Michael Preetz unveiled this emblem on the club’s 120-year anniversary with the motto ‘Clean flag. Clean football.’ Not only did this choice reconnect the club with their history, it also pleased the fans.

It sometimes took a number of years for the full club crest to appear on the matchday shirt. Hans Weiner shows off his tricks while modelling the Hertha Berlin 1972/73 kit.