Hertha Berlin in shock as president Bernstein dies suddenly at 43

Hertha Berlin president Kay Bernstein has died suddenly at the age of 43.

Second division Hertha BSC is mourning the loss of its president. The club confirmed his unexpected death at just 43 years old.

"This Tuesday, Hertha BSC received the terrible news that President Kay Bernstein died unexpectedly at the age of 43. The entire club, its committees and employees are stunned and deeply dismayed," it said in a statement. Nothing was initially known about the circumstances.

Bernstein was surprisingly elected as the new president of Hertha BSC in the summer of 2022. He was a former Ultra and used to be the lead singer in the fan curve. At Berlin he succeeded Werner Gegenbauer, who had led the club for an extended time.

His election was also a lesson for the Hertha establishment, some of which openly wanted to push through their opponent, the CDU politician Frank Steffel.

An ex-Ultra at the helm of a club that was still playing in the Bundesliga at the time was a novelty. Bernstein was concerned with the image of the approachable president and wanted to place emphasis on the fans' perspective.