Hertha BSC Names Brekalo New Captain – Görlich Sees Season Opener in Bochum as a Nerve-Wracking Affair

Brekalo Takes Over the Armband

In addition to Brekalo, other players have been brought into the team leadership. According to reports, Paul Seguin and Linus Gechter are part of the extended leadership group. The aim is to distribute the burden of external communication across several shoulders, particularly during away matches.

Peter Görlich, Managing Director Sport at Hertha BSC, spoke about expectations for the season start ahead of the trip to Bochum. He anticipates a cautious opening phase in which both teams will initially feel each other out. "It will be characterized by sizing each other up, by a certain nervousness. But we will see a Hertha team that will implement the principles it has developed, also in Bochum," Görlich said.

Görlich Calls for Patience

At the same time, Görlich pointed to the special circumstances of the first matchday. After an intense preseason, it is normal that the automatisms are not yet fully in place. What matters is that the team recognizes its approach from the outset and consistently implements the coaching staff's instructions.

For Brekalo, the captain's armband represents another step in his career. The Hamburg native previously played for VfL Wolfsburg, among other clubs, and has experience from both the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga. With this promotion, he assumes visible responsibility at a stage in which Hertha BSC is targeting a return to the Bundesliga.

In Bochum, the Berlin side faces VfL on Friday evening – a team that has likewise declared promotion back to the Bundesliga as its goal for the season. Both teams are therefore among the promotion candidates for the new season. The duel is regarded as the first litmus test for the ambitious squads.

Bochum as the First Benchmark

Sources close to the club say the team is still considered well-drilled despite several changes. The Brekalo–Seguin axis in central midfield in particular is said to give the coaching staff flexible options to react depending on the scoreline. Gechter is expected to be a fixture in central defense.

Looking ahead to the coming weeks, the club emphasizes that the captaincy question has now been conclusively settled. The aim is to provide the team with clear conditions and a calm framework ahead of the first competitive match. The focus now lies exclusively on the sporting opener.

For Hertha BSC, the mission of returning to the Bundesliga officially begins with the match in Bochum. Should the team finish the season in the upper reaches of the table, a direct return to the top flight would be possible. In this context, Brekalo's appointment as captain also serves as a signal of continuity and leadership.