FC Bayern travel to Berlin on Sunday as they begin the second half of the season away to Hertha BSC. A look at the history books shows that it’s not just the A9 that connects the two clubs. fcbayern.com recalls four of the players who have worn the jersey of both teams.
Andreas Ottl
Munich-born Andreas Ottl progressed through the FC Bayern youth ranks after joining the club at the age of 11, before making his senior debut in August 2005. He scored his first goal for the German record champions in May 2006 – and it was a truly special one. Ottl’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Kaiserslautern meant FCB could no longer be caught at the top and secured them the title on Matchday 33. After a loan spell at 1. FC Nürnberg, the central midfielder moved to Hertha in 2011 but only stayed for a year. The 34-year-old is now retired and works as a pundit for FC Bayern TV LIVE, among other things.
Ali Daei
Ali Daei moved to Munich from Arminia Bielefeld in summer 1998. The wholehearted centre-forward netted six goals in 32 appearances for Bayern, winning both the league and Ligapokal. After one year with the Reds, he left for Hertha. Daei spent four seasons in the capital before continuing his career in Dubai and then finishing it in his home country in 2007. Iran’s most-capped international and top goalscorer is now a coach, although he’s currently without a club.
Ivica Olić
Ivica Olić signed for Hertha BSC from NK Marsonia in 1998 and it was there where he made his first two Bundesliga appearances at the age of 19. After various spells elsewhere, including Dinamo Zagreb and Hamburger SV, he joined FC Bayern in 2009. Olić quickly became a fans’ favourite during his three years in Bavaria. The Croatian striker was renowned for his selfless commitment and never-say-die attitude, as epitomised by his goal in the 2010 Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United, when he robbed the ball off Patrice Evra out of nothing and won the match late on. The 2010 double winner hung up his boots in 2017 and has since been working as the assistant coach of the Croatian national team, who were runners-up at the 2018 World Cup. He also regularly turns out for the FC Bayern Legends.
Sandro Wagner
There were signs from a young age that Sandro Wagner would play for both clubs. The striker began his career as a young boy at the appropriately named Hertha Munich before joining the FCB academy at the age of seven. In 2007, he made his first-team debut for the record champions but in the years that followed, he plied his trade elsewhere in order to make a name for himself in the Bundesliga. He played for Hertha from 2012 to 2015, and then after stints at Darmstadt and Hoffenheim, he came back home to Bayern in January 2018 – 10 years after his last appearance for his boyhood club. After one year, 30 games, 10 goals as well as two league titles and a cup success, the 32-year-old moved to Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League, where he’s still playing.
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