Brekalo Announces Bundesliga Push
Newly appointed Hertha captain Josip Brekalo speaks to Sport Klub ahead of the 2. Bundesliga season opener about ambitions, a new style of play, and a desire to return to the national team.
Newly appointed Hertha captain Josip Brekalo speaks to Sport Klub ahead of the 2. Bundesliga season opener about ambitions, a new style of play, and a desire to return to the national team.
The new season of the exciting German 2. Bundesliga kicks off on Friday at 8:30 PM, and one of the main faces at its opening will be Croatian footballer Josip Brekalo. The newly appointed captain of Hertha Berlin, ahead of the away match against Bochum, gave an extensive interview to Sport Klub, in which he announced the club's great ambitions and revealed that he feels in excellent form.
The 28-year-old former international arrived at the Berlin club in February 2026 and quickly became an indispensable cog. "I'm very happy to have come to such a big club; I couldn't have asked for a better development than here. I've settled in well and they've accepted me wonderfully, and now they've also given me the captain's armband, which means a lot to me because it shows how much they value me at the club," Brekalo stated for Sport Klub.
Brekalo doesn't hide his satisfaction with the status he enjoys at the club from the Olympiastadion. He emphasized that he has also signed a new contract and that it is now up to him to justify that trust on the pitch and return Hertha to where they belong, the Bundesliga. In the previous season, during which he arrived in the winter transfer window, he made 12 appearances with three goals and two assists.
"When you arrive in February, it's not easy to impose yourself and fit into the team, but I think I quickly became an important part of the squad," Brekalo recalled his beginnings in Berlin. However, Hertha finished last season in seventh place, 11 points behind the third position that leads to promotion playoffs. "In the last three rounds, there was no longer any imperative for results because it was clear that reaching at least third place was out of reach," analyzed the Croatian footballer.
Despite the departure of some players, Brekalo points out that the core of the team remains the same, and a large number of young talents from Hertha's famous academy have joined. "I believe we will be good," he said. He specifically highlighted a few names to watch. "Defensive midfielder Boris Mamuzah Lum is very promising, and there are also Soufian Gouram and Selim Telib, all young, talented players from whom much is expected. We are a young team; at 28, I am one of the oldest players."
He also commented on the departure of 17-year-old Kennet Eichhorn to Bayer Leverkusen for nine million euros, comparing it to last year's transfer of Ibrahim Maze. "Eichhorn already looked incredibly mature at 16, and it's no surprise that all clubs were fighting for him. Four million people live here; it's a huge base, and the academy is top-notch, so it's no wonder new names keep emerging," he said.
Under the guidance of coach Stefan Leitl, who has been at the club since the beginning of 2025, Hertha is ready for a step forward. Brekalo reveals that the coaching staff has prepared tactical surprises. "I think we will be the surprise this year. We've changed our style; I can't reveal much, but I can say that it worked very well during preparations," he announced.
Brekalo himself, who grew up as a classic winger, is increasingly finding his place in midfield. "The coach, Stefan Leitl, recognized that and towards the end of last season he often played me as a 'number 10'. Wherever he puts me, I'll give my best, that's for sure," he said. He describes his personal form as "top" after going through preparations without missing a single training session. Hertha recorded four wins and two draws in six friendly matches, including a convincing 15:0 victory over Frohnauer where Brekalo scored twice.
Brekalo also reflected on the incredible atmosphere at 2. Bundesliga matches. "On average, we have 45,000-50,000 people at our home games, and when we string together positive results, all 74,000 tickets sell out. It's a football backdrop that reminds you of the Champions League, not a second division. It's a pleasure to play here," he described enthusiastically.
Good performances in a Hertha shirt could also bring him back into contention for the Croatian national team, now led by new coach Slaven Bilić. "If I play well, I'll certainly come into consideration; that's all up to the coach. I'll give my all to deserve it with my performances, and whether that will be enough, we'll see," said Brekalo. The first chance to prove himself comes immediately on Friday in the away match against Bochum, a club that Hertha has beaten only once in the last 13 years. "I didn't even know that statistic; it doesn't matter to us who we play against because the most important thing is that we are the best we can be and get the win," concluded the captain of the Berlin giant.
