Johannes Sobek, whom everyone just called ‘Hanne’, was one of the most influential and successful personalities in the history of Hertha BSC. Exactly 34 years ago, on February 17, 1989, the veteran of the ‘Old Lady’ died. In honor of the anniversary of his death, we commemorate a great Herthaner.
Born on March 18, 1900 in Mirow, Mecklenburg, Johannes Sobek moved to Berlin at the age of ten and learned to play football at Bavaria 09. After the offensive man then played five seasons (1920-1925) for Alemannia 90, he laid the foundation for an impressive career by moving to Hertha BSC. In the capital, ‘Hanne’ Sobek became a symbol of the glory days of our club. The ten-time national player was in the final for the German championship with the Spreeatheners six times in a row. It took four defeats before the striker and the capital club could call themselves German champions in 1930 after a 5-4 victory over Holstein Kiel. With his two goals in the final, the fan favorite made a significant contribution. In the following season, the Berliners managed to defend their title in the final against 1860 Munich (3:2) – ‘Hanne’ Sobek again scored twice on the list of goalscorers.
Two-time Berlin champion and promotion coach
After the Second World War, the former professional started his coaching career at SC Union Oberschöneweide and led the club to the final round of the German Championship in 1950, but was not allowed to travel to West Germany with the team. The coach then fled with most of his players to the west of the capital. There the icon took over in 1959 on the sidelines at the heart club Hertha BSC and celebrated two Berlin championships and promotion to the Bundesliga at his old place of work. Two years after the end of his career, Sobek returned to the blue and whites and held the position of emergency chairman of the board for almost half a year.
For ‘Hanne’ Sobek, Hertha BSC has always been an affair of the heart as a player, coach and official. Oliver Ohmann writes about him in a book: “Hanne Sobek was the miracle that Berlin’s football fans had been waiting for so long – charismatic, passionate, brilliant.” To this day, his merits continue to have an impact on our club. Continue to rest in peace, ‘Hanne’!
