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Following his departure from Hertha BSC, veteran defender Toni Leistner is not ready to hang up his boots just yet. The 35-year-old center-back believes he still has the quality to compete at a high level. “Looking back at this season, the number of clean sheets I was part of when I started, I think it was a solid season for me personally. And given that my body held up—I didn’t miss a single session due to injury—I feel there’s still something left in the tank. But I need to sort things out over the next few weeks and discuss it with my wife to see what’s possible,” Leistner told *Kicker*.
The Dresden native joined Hertha on a free transfer from VV St. Truiden in 2023, making 84 appearances for the capital club. His most games came for rivals Union Berlin (119). His peak market value stood at €2.5 million in mid-2019; it now sits at €300,000. “Family comes first. We have a daughter in school, and another starting school this summer. Planning is no longer as simple as it is for a player without kids,” Leistner explained.
Hertha BSC decided not to extend his expiring contract, a move that caught him off guard. “It wasn’t hinted at. The club called me into the office last week and explained the situation. As a player, you accept it. The next day, you start looking ahead and try to reorganize—I haven’t fully managed that yet. Things will happen as they should,” he said.
Leistner accepts Hertha’s decision and is keeping his eyes forward. Naturally, there’s disappointment about leaving Berlin. “I’ve grown fond of the club. But they explained it to me, and I’m not going to stand there trying to convince them otherwise. The decision is made; that’s football. Everything can change overnight. But you always cross paths twice in life, so it will happen.”
Regarding a potential role at Hertha, who will once again miss out on Bundesliga promotion this season, the veteran was not ready to comment concretely. “All of this came as a bit of a surprise, so I haven’t made any plans or picked a position. Of course, there needs to be a role created or available. Coaching? I’m not keen on that; the business has become too fast-paced for me,” Leistner added.
Hertha BSC also bid farewell to academy product Tim Hoffmann (21, joining SC Verl), John Brooks (33), Diego Demme (34), and Jeremy Dudziak (30). Brooks, who returned in 2024, was sidelined by injury; Demme has made 38 appearances since his arrival two years ago; Dudziak has featured 28 times for Hertha since 2023.
