Family affair in Berlin
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Article summary
One of Germany's great football families goes head to head when Dieter and Uli Hoeness watch Hertha BSC Berlin and FC Bayern München meet in the Bundesliga.
Article body
Seamless transition
The Hoeness brothers are the respective general managers of the capital's only top-flight club, Hertha BSC Berlin, and perennial champions, FC Bayern München. After stellar playing careers, they moved seamlessly into executive life, making their family probably the most influential in the German game.
Opposite paths
Though separated by just a year in age, Uli and Dieter never played together. When Uli, 54, left Bayern for 1. FC Nürnberg midway through the 1978/79 season, his younger sibling was just starting negotiations with the Bavarian giants. Dieter travelled east from VfB Stuttgart six months later, but by the time he established himself as a top striker with 102 goals in 224 games for Bayern, Uli had moved upstairs, hanging up his boots aged 27 to become Bayern's general manager.
'Positive relationship'
Both men have contributed much to their clubs' current standing. The long-serving Uli is the personification of Bayern's success, thanks to his shrewd planning and rational thinking, while Uli has led Hertha from the second division almost to the pinnacle of German football. "We don't only talk about football when we meet. We have a positive relationship," said Dieter with typical Hoeness understatement.
Winning aim
On Tuesday, that good feeling will be tested for 90 minutes. Fifth-placed Hertha need a victory to bolster their bid for UEFA Cup qualification, while anything less than three points is deemed a failure for a Bayern side who have won 16 of 19 league games this season.
Thrill of the chase
Bayern lead the Bundesliga by eight points, yet Uli Hoeness hopes nearest challengers Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV maintain the pressure for as long as possible to keep them sharp for the UEFA Champions League. "An early finish in the championship would not be good. We might relax and this could pose a threat to our other mission," he warned.
No sentiment
While Bayern are untroubled at the top, Hertha risk discontent unless they can improve on their two lacklustre 1-1 draws against Hannover 96 and Eintracht Frankfurt since the league resumed. "If we do not win soon, our instability could increase," said coach Falko Götz. Dieter Hoeness would love a gift from his brother on Tuesday but both men know that, even in a family business, there is no room for sentiment.
