Silver and bronze for Hertha at the DFB-Ü-Cup

Hertha BSC made it onto the winners' podium twice at Germany's biggest competition for senior teams.

After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the annual DFB-Ü-Cup took place again at the Olympiapark Berlin on the weekend of September 24/25, 2022. Germany's best senior teams competed for the title in the over-32, over-40 and over-50 men's competitions as well as the DFB Over-35 Women's Cup, with Hertha BSC making it onto the winners' podium twice for Berlin.

The best in Germany!

Hertha's Ü32 team missed out on the title by a hair's breadth. After a goalless draw against Alemannia Lendersdorf at the start, a 4:0 triumph over FC Bayern Munich and a 2:0 win against FSG Schmelz/Limbach/Gresaubach, they went into the all-important final match for first place in the table against Victoria Hamburg, who were level on points. However, the team from the Hanseatic city retained the upper hand and ultimately secured the DFB-Ü32 Cup title with a narrow 1:0 victory. The Hertha team, featuring ex-Bundesliga professionals Sami Allagui, Chinedu Ede and Malik Fathi, finished in a strong second place.

Hertha BSC's Ü40 team was no less strong this weekend. The team led by former professional Benjamin Köhler won the bronze medals in the DFB Ü40 Cup with a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, a 3-1 win against Eintracht Nordhorn, a narrow 2-1 defeat against eventual winners 1. FC Nürnberg and a 0-0 draw against SG Mittelmosel/Leiwen. Berlin is therefore the third-best over-40 team in Germany and the second-best over-32 team in Germany.

Meanwhile, Hannover 96 won the DFB Over-50 Cup ahead of north-east representative 1. FC Frankfurt (Oder), while the trophy in the DFB Over-35 Women's Cup went to Asbach Uralt Essen. The NOFV representatives from USV Jena finished in fourth place.

The DFB Ü Championships took place in Berlin on September 15 and 16, 2018. The women's over-35 teams also took part for the first time.

Last weekend, the DFB hosted the best over-40 men's teams for the twelfth time and the over-50 men's teams for the sixth time in Berlin's Olympic Park. Everyone involved is particularly proud of this: For the first time, the final tournament for the over-35 women was also held together with the men. With perfect soccer weather throughout the weekend, the spectators got their money's worth thanks to the high-class and exciting soccer. The Berliners in particular had great reason to celebrate, as Blau-Weiß 90 won the DFB Ü40 Cup title in the end.

DFB Ü40 Cup: Blau-Weiß 90 unstoppable

In two groups of five, the group stage was initially about advancing to the semi-finals. The teams played at a high technical and tactical level. Numerous former Bundesliga players such as Vahid Hashemian, Marius Ebbers (both SC Victoria Hamburg), Marco Gebhardt and Ronny Nikol (both Blau-Weiß 90) amazed the spectators time and again with some great moves.

After four wins in four games, Blau-Weiß 90 reached the semi-finals in Group A as group winners. With controlled attacking soccer, coach Michael Meister's team was always on top of the action. With nine points, Rhineland representative SG Mittelmosel/Leiwen secured second place ahead of SV Erzhausen, Eintracht Nordhorn and Arminia Bielefeld. In Group B, record champions Bayern Munich and SC Victoria Hamburg advanced to the semi-finals, relegating VfB Speldorf, FC Grün-Weiß Piesteritz and SV Hermersberg to third to fifth place.

Blau-Weiß 90 and Victoria Hamburg then met in the semi-finals. With the score at 1:1, Victoria striker Marius Ebbers missed the potential opening goal from a free-standing position, but on the counterattack, Blau-Weiß left winger Marco Gebhardt took the entire Hamburg defense by surprise with a brilliant solo run and finished with a low shot into the far corner for the 2:1 winning goal. In the second semi-final, FC Bayern Munich tried to replicate their dominant positional play from the group stage. However, the players of SG Mittelmosel/Leiwen repeatedly launched dangerous counter-attacks and in the end, somewhat surprisingly but deservedly, advanced to the final with a 2-0 win.

In the final between Blau-Weiß 90 and SG Mittelmosel/Leiwen, the Berliners dominated proceedings in the first 15 minutes. Goalscorer Michael Fuß, the tournament's top scorer with seven goals, scored the deserved 1-0 in the seventh minute and missed the second goal just a few minutes later when he hit the post. In the second half, Blau-Weiß 90 were more concerned with staying defensively secure and only launching occasional counter-attacks. Things got tense again when the Mittelmosel/Leiwen keeper was involved in a corner kick in the final minute, but in the end the men from Berlin deservedly took the crown.

Blau-Weiß coach Michael Meister was therefore full of praise for his team: "We are simply a tournament team. Our team spirit has made us strong." He also praised the high level of soccer played by the teams: "We've been here several times before. The general conditions around the tournament have steadily improved, which increases the incentive to show great performances even at an older age."

DFB Over 50s Cup: FC Hennef 05 wins the race

The tournament for 7 over 50s teams took place at the same time on the small pitches in Berlin's Olympiapark. The six teams played out this year's champion in an "everyone against everyone" format. With four wins and a draw, the North Rhine-Westphalian representative FC Hennef 05 took the title in the Ü50 Cup. TSV Lesum-Burgdamm secured second place with eight points thanks to the better goal difference compared to third-placed Hertha BSC. VfB Dillingen came fourth with seven points, followed by the second Berlin representative SSV-Köpenick-Oberspree (four points). SG-Stadelkirchen-Oberkirch were bottom of the table with one point.

DFB Over 35 Women's Cup: NOFV champions FF USV Jena finish second

For the first time, the DFB Over 35 Women's Cup was held in Berlin together with the men's Over 35 Cup. "The women's participation is an absolute enrichment for this event in every aspect and will of course be continued," said DFB Vice President Erwin Bugar. Victory in the Women's Over-35 Cup was secured by the players of FC Bayern Munich, who confidently won the group mode without losing a point or conceding a goal. The women of the NOFV champions FF USV Jena achieved an excellent second place, relegating the teams of SG Nie HSV, SC Preußen Borghorst, Riegelsberg United and 1.FFC Niederkirchen to third to sixth place. Preußen Borghorst player Melanie Waterkamp was a particular highlight in terms of fair play. After an unjustified penalty decision, she told her teammate at the seven-meter spot, who then deliberately missed the penalty.

Kathrin Grunwald (SG Nie HSV) was named best player and top scorer, while Stephanie Neuser (SG Preußen Borghorst) received the award for best goalkeeper. In the DFB Over 50 Cup, the awards went to Uwe Haas (best player/ VfB Dillingen), Andreas Werner (best goalscorer) and Andre Skerka (best player/ both Hertha BSC). Francisco Copado of Bayern Munich was honored as the best player of the DFB Over 40 Cup, while the award for best goalkeeper went to Thorsten Lang (Mittelmosel).

A big thank you goes to the 22 volunteer team coaches from the Berlin Football Association, who looked after the participating teams throughout the weekend and ensured that everything ran smoothly. In addition, 35 ball kids from Fortuna Pankow stood on the sidelines and reliably supplied the players with balls. At the end, players and helpers stood together on the pitch and celebrated a great and successful soccer weekend.

Further information

About the tournament of the DFB Over 35 Women's Cupand the DFB-Over 40-Cup and the DFB-Over 50-Cup

Dates for next year

Saturday, September 14 to Sunday, September 15, 2019 in Berlin's Olympiapark (Friedrich-Friesen-Allee, 14053 Berlin)

On September 16 and 17, 2017, the DFB Ü 40 Cup took place for the eleventh time at the Olympiapark Berlin. In consistently dry weather, ten teams qualified for the national final tournament competed for the coveted trophy. In the end, SG Hoechst Classique secured the title. Berlin representative Blau-Weiss 90 was unfortunately eliminated in the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out and ultimately finished in fourth place.

Some spectacular goals and former professionals

In two groups of five teams each, the group stage was initially about advancing to the knockout phase, for which at least second place had to be achieved. Despite great ambition and an irrepressible will to win, the players played fairly throughout the competition. From the very first game, the teams thrilled the spectators with soccer at a high technical and tactical level, beautiful combinations and fantastic goals.

As in previous years, several former players with Bundesliga experience took part in this year's tournament. Blau-Weiss 90 attacker Marco Gebhardt (formerly with Eintracht Frankfurt, among others) impressed with some great dribbling, while 57-year-old Frank Hartmann, who played for Hannover 96 and Bayern Munich in the 80s, flicked a free-kick under the crossbar for the Hannover over 40s team. Ex-Union Berlin professional Ronny Nikol also put in his usual strong performance as Blau-Weiss captain.

After three wins and a draw, Blau-Weiss 90 finished top of Group A with ten points. Coach Michael Meister's team shone in the five preliminary round matches with strong attacking soccer. FC Bayern München's Ü 40 secured second place with six points ahead of SG Mittelmosel/Leiwen, SV Eintracht 1902 Verlautenheide and TSV Reinbek. With eight points each, SG Hoechst and Hannover 96 made it through to the semi-finals in Group B, relegating Lüner SV, SV Bad Kleinen and SG Alsdorf/Kirchen to third to fifth place.

Thrilling finals only decided from the spot

The semi-final duels were characterized by defensive tactics. The teams made every effort to avoid mistakes, and several great chances went unused. In an open game against Hannover, Blau-Weiss 90 was unlucky with two shots against the crossbar and the game remained goalless after regulation time. The second semi-final match between FC Bayern and Hoechst Classique also failed to produce a winner in 30 minutes. Both matches therefore went to a penalty shoot-out, in which Hannover and Hoechst emerged as the lucky winners.

The subsequent final between Hannover 96 and SG Hoechst in the amateur stadium turned out to be a goalkeeper's duel. Both keepers kept their teams in the game on several occasions with first-class reflexes. Once again, it came down to a penalty shoot-out. With the theme tune from "Spiel mir das Lied vom Tod" playing, Hoechst goalkeeper Christian Giggel managed to save one more penalty than his counterpart Miguel Caceres-Risco. The title therefore went to Hoechst after a heart-stopping final. Captain Jose Ferreiro gave free rein to his joy: "We've been waiting eleven years now. We finally have the title!"

Ü 50 Cup: The Bavarians win the race

The tournament for the 7-man over 50s teams took place on the adjacent pitches. Six teams competed in the "everyone against everyone" mode. FC Bayern remained undefeated in five games (four wins, one draw) and therefore deservedly won the tournament. SV Mackenbach finished runners-up with three wins, one draw and one defeat. Preußen Lengerich finished in third place with eight points.

The SpVgg Blau-Weiss 1890 Ü50 team finished in fifth place, level on points with fourth-placed TuS Frisia Goldenstedt. The Berliners showed some impressive moves, but were unable to capitalize on numerous great opportunities. At the bottom of the table with two points was TV Askania Bernburg.

"Almost perfect weekend"

The DFB-Ü 40/Ü 50-Cup enjoyed a positive response towards the end of the tournament: "It is remarkable how much organizational effort was put into the tournament. It was great fun, despite the narrow defeat in the final," concluded Hannover defender Serkan Aslantürk. Aslantürk called the supporting program "outstanding". The DFB had invited the players and their companions to stay overnight and attend the gala evening "Stars in Concert" at the Estrel Hotel.

Despite the unfortunate elimination, Blue & White coach Michael Meister was also full of praise: "It was another great event that offered a great sporting challenge to footballers of an older age." He described the semi-final defeat on penalties as "unfortunate". They had put in a strong performance against a defensive team, but just missed the opening goal.

Before the award ceremony, Michael Lichtnecker, Chairman of the DFB Committee for Beach Soccer, Recreational and Popular Sports, thanked all the helpers and organizers and described the weekend as "almost perfect". Christian Gaebler, State Secretary for Sport in Berlin, also attended the trophy presentation and was delighted: "It's an important event for amateur sport. It's great how teams from all over Germany come to Berlin and make this weekend such an event." Gaebler would be delighted "if Berlin were to host the event again next year. We are already looking forward to the next tournament!"

The DFB Over 40s Cup took place for the tenth time at the weekend in Berlin's Olympic Park. For the anniversary edition, ten teams qualified for the national final tournament for over 40s footballers. In the end, Blau-Weiß 90 held the coveted trophy aloft.

The players were in no way impressed by the initial rain on the first day of the tournament: passion, ambition, technical finesse and plenty of fun were on show from the senior footballers. But the weather also played along more and more as time went on and Klaus Jahn, Chairman of the DFB's Recreational and Popular Sports Committee, summed it up: "The conditions this weekend were ideal for top-class senior men's soccer. The DFB Over 40s Cup is something special. Every year, the teams give their all to come here to Berlin."

Positive feedback from the participants

The tournament was also well received by the players: "It's sensational what has been put together here for us old men. It's my first time taking part and I'm really impressed," said former Bundesliga player Ronny Nikol from Berlin representative Blau-Weiß 90. The teams had to qualify for the DFB Over 40s Cup in advance via regional tournaments. The German Football Association invited those teams, each with 18 players and six accompanying persons, to Berlin for the Ü 40 Cup. This included accommodation at the Estrel Hotel on Berlin's Sonnenallee and tickets for the "Stars in Concert" gala evening.

It was already clear in the run-up to the tournament that the defending champions Hannover 96 would not be taking part. After well-known clubs such as Hannover and Hansa Rostock had secured the title in recent years, this year an amateur club pulled off the big coup. Apart from Bayern Munich, only amateur clubs took part in the DFB Over 40 Cup. The enthusiasm of the smaller clubs for the event was particularly evident on this third weekend in September. However, amateurs were not necessarily the only ones involved. In addition to Ronny Nikol, Berlin representative Blau-Weiß 90 had other well-known ex-professionals such as Marco Sejna (Hertha BSC, among others) and Marco Gebhardt (Eintracht Frankfurt, among others) in the squad.

High level of soccer skills

"This anniversary will once again provide us with plenty of excitement and beautiful moves," said Bernd Schultz, President of the Berlin Football Association, in the run-up to the tournament. Bernd Schultz was proved right. The opening matches on Saturday morning already indicated that no team would simply admit defeat.

The participants initially battled in two groups of five for a place in the semi-finals. After the first day of the tournament, Berlin representative Blau-Weiß 90 secured their place in the semi-finals early with three wins in three games. However, the overall field of participants was very tight and all nine other teams still had the opportunity to qualify for the final round on the second day of the tournament.

By lunchtime on the second day of the tournament, all the other semi-finalists had been decided. In Group A, TB Jahn Zeiskam won the group. Last year's finalists Westfalia Herne also qualified for the semi-finals as the second-placed team. First place in Group B went to Blau-Weiß 90 with a maximum score of twelve points, while SG Kupferdreh-Byfang finished behind the hosts from Berlin to reach the final.

Exciting final matches

The two semi-finals, which took place at the same time, offered the spectators plenty of excitement in the Olympiapark. The semi-final match between TB Jahn Zeiskam and SG Kupferdreh/Byfang was accompanied by frenetic cheers from the supporters of both teams. In the end, SG Kupferdreh/Byfang won by a very narrow 1:0. In the second semi-final match, no winner could be determined after regular playing time, which is why it went to a penalty shoot-out. There, the Berlin team prevailed 5:3.

The match for third place was won 3:1 by Westfalia Herne against TB Jahn Zeiskam after a commanding performance. Blau-Weiß 90 and SG Kupferdreh/Byfang now faced each other in the final. The Berlin team set the tone first and took the lead through Andreas Beister. An open exchange of blows then developed between the two teams. But shortly before the end, Blau-Weiß 90 increased the lead to 2:0: Thomas Reimelt added his name to the scoresheet after a beautiful move. Shortly afterwards, the game was over and the new German champion in the over-40 age group was now Blau-Weiß 90.

Quotes after the final

The coach of Blau-Weiß 90, Michael Meister, had the following to say about winning the title: "This title means an awful lot to us. We've been working towards it for a year. After the titles of Berlin champions and cup winners as well as winning the North-East German championship, this is the fourth and biggest success of the season." The Berliners did not concede a goal in the entire tournament.

But the new runners-up SG Kupferdreh-Byfang also saw every reason to be happy after losing the final. "A super great event. We were there for the first time and brought 150 people with us, who supported us loudly. It was amazing."

Blau-Weiß 90 also triumphs in the awards

The participating teams voted Marco Gebhardt from Blau-Weiß 90 as the best player of the tournament. Gebhardt was ecstatic: "This tournament was an absolute highlight." Other awards also went to the blue and whites: Marco Sejna was named best goalkeeper and Hendryk Lau was crowned top scorer with four goals. The oldest player in the field was Uwe Volling from SV Viktoria Woltwiesche at the age of 57.

The new German champion in senior men's soccer over 40 was then honored by DFB Vice President Rainer Milkoreit. The President of the North-East German Football Association (NOFV), who represents soccer for older players on the DFB Executive Committee, offered his warmest congratulations and commented on the importance of this tournament: "The tournament has undergone dynamic development over the last ten years. The appreciation of senior soccer in Germany is growing at the clubs thanks to events like this. And this is precisely how older players can be kept in the clubs."

The placings:

1. Sp.Vg. Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin
2. SG Kupferdreh-Byfang
3. SC Westfalia 04 Herne
4. TB Jahn Zeiskam
5. FC Bayern München
6. SV Viktoria Woltwiesche
7. SG Einfeld/Gadeland/PSV Neumünster
8. FC 09 Überlingen
9. SG Alsdorf-Kirchen
10. SpG Askania Bernburg/Alsleben/Plötzkau

The DFB Over 40 Cup was held for the 9th time and the DFB Over 50 Cup for the 4th time last weekend in Berlin's Olympiapark.

Hannover triumphs in the Over 40s Cup

Hannover 96 won the DFB Over 40s Cup for the second time, taking over from serial winners Hansa Rostock. In Berlin's Olympiapark, the team from Lower Saxony narrowly beat Westfalia Herne 1-0 in the final. 96 remained unbeaten in six games and thus deservedly secured the German championship. The triumph of the Hanoverians was made perfect by Marco Dehne, who was not only top scorer with three goals, but was also named best player of the tournament. Holger Holz from losing finalists Westfalia Herne was awarded the trophy for best goalkeeper. SG Fehlheim/Lorsch secured third place with a 1:0 win against SG Alsdorf/Kirchen.

Arminia Bielefeld, the second professional club in the 16-team field, triumphed in the Ü 50 Cup, which took place at the same time. In the "everyone against everyone" format, Arminia took first place with 12 points after five matches. SG Heidetal-Ilmenau (10 points) and NSF Gropiusstadt (8 points) finished on the podium.

NSF Gropiusstadt with a strong tournament performance

The Berlin representative played an outstanding tournament. In the "final match" against the eventual Cup winners Arminia Bielefeld, only a win would have been enough to lift the trophy. However, the Bielefeld team proved to be more ruthless when it came to scoring chances and the game was lost 0:1. The disappointment did not last long, however, as the team was always close to the "winner's cup" throughout the tournament and can be justifiably proud of their performance.

Former professional Ralf Sievers (SG Heidetal-Ilmenau) was named best player, while Jörg Pundmann from tournament winners Arminia Bielefeld was named best goalkeeper.

The top scorer award was shared by five players with three goals each: Jens Alpers and Hartmut Lenz (both Heidetal-Ilmenau), Joachim Fuhrberg (Arminia Bielefeld), Thomas Knuth (NSF Gropiusstadt) and Uwe Haas (VfB Dillingen).

Special thanks go to the D-junior players from BW Spandau, who were available as ball kids on both days and thus ensured that the tournament was a success.