“Hertha was always the best option for me”

Berlin – On August 10th 2007, the financial crisis reached a new critical point, the UN Security Council strengthened the UN involvement in Iraq and VfB Stuttgart kicked off the 45th Bundesliga season as champions with a 2-2 draw against Schalke 04. Something else also happened on this rather grey summer evening: Fabian Lustenberger landed in Berlin from Switzerland at the young age of 19. The young teenager Hertha BSC signed then was largely an unknown quantity. 249 matches for the Blau-Weißen later and things look slightly different. The versatile defender is now one of the faces of the club, a Herthaner through and through and the longest-serving player in Pál Dárdai’s squad. In a world where transfer fees have become meaningless, Lustenberger stands for continuity and loyalty, a player who has experienced all the ups and downs on the Spree.

On 10th August 2017, Lustenberger celebrates a decade since signing his first contract with Hertha BSC. We decided to look back on ‘Lusti’s’ decade wearing the Hertha badge on his chest.

herthabsc.de: Lusti, you’ve been at Hertha BSC for a decade – you’ve experienced a lot. What moments do you look back on with particularly fond memories?

Fabian Lustenberger: I remember many of my games here; there have been a lot of amazing moments during my time at Hertha. The promotions were special of course, the second one particularly so on a personal level because I played in almost every game. Apart from that you always remember certain games. We won 2:1 against Dortmund when Marius Gersbeck was playing his first match. We beat Bayern 2:1 at home, and even though I was only sitting in the stands, the atmosphere in the stadium was breathtaking. All in all I’ve had many good experiences with Hertha BSC.

herthabsc.de: Ten years is a long time. What challenges have you overcome in this time? Was there ever a low point when you might have thought about leaving?

Lustenberger: The relegations were very difficult, though the first time we only had six points by the winter break so were expecting to get relegated that season. The second relegation remains a dark memory for me. The defeat in the first leg, the chaos in Düsseldorf, the court proceedings and then not knowing how things were going to turn out – that wasn’t easy. Those were the hardest moments. Then there are the injuries – you naturally don’t look back on those with fond memories.

herthabsc.de: You arrived at Hertha BSC from FC Luzern in 2007 at the age of 19. What was that early period like?

Lustenberger: I went to my first training on the U-Bahn because I didn’t have a driving license yet. When I look back on my arrival in Berlin I have to laugh a little because it was ten years ago and I have changed and developed (chuckles) a lot since then. Everything was exciting for me in my first year, the city, playing in the Bundesliga… and I played 24 times in my first season which was really good.

herthabsc.de: These days it’s rare that a player stays at the same club for longer than two or three years. You seriously buck that trend. Are you proud that you’ve displayed such loyalty to one club over such a long time?

Lustenberger: I am definitely proud of it but the time has gone really quickly. I don’t feel as if I’ve been here that long. You just take things day by day. But yeah, when I tell other people about how long it’s been it definitely makes an impression. Some players have switched clubs three of four times in the same space of time. Meanwhile I’m still here and I am definitely proud of that; it’s nice to look back on my development. The club means a lot to me – not just because it allowed me to play in the Bundesliga but also because the relationship is based on mutual respect.

herthabsc.de: You’ve seen a few players come and go during your time here. Are there any in particular you stay in contact with?

Lustenberger: I’m still in regular contact with Steve von Bergen. Our families went on holidays together. I also exchange occasional messages with Sandro Wagner, Sascha Burchert and Sami Allagui. You always say you’ll stay in contact with ex-teammates but in practice it can be hard. A new player arrives and then you get to know them better.