The strength and influence that fans have in German football is well known. However, what has happened in the 3.Bundesliga (Third) draws attention… although there are precedents. And, after five of the seven members that made up the Hansa Rostock Supervisory Board resigned last Monday, the ultra Sebastian Eggert has emerged as the new president of the German club.
At just 43 years old, and a member since 2003, he is one of the team’s most influential fans. So much so that he founded the ultra group ‘Suptras’ and joined the board in 2016. However, he has never been an office man. In fact, it is a regular feature of the animation background that is displayed in the Ostseestadion.
From now on, he will be one of the most visible faces of the club… but also in decision-making. At least, he will be in charge until November 2025. Hiring the new coach and finding financing for the stadium lighting will depend on him.
“Only those who have been a member of the club for at least one year continuously, are at least 25 years old, are not members of another club body and do not play an active or advisory role in any body can be a member of the supervisory board,” Hansa Rostock explained in a statement.
It is one of the hottest clubs in Germany. In fact, the resignation of five of the previous board members comes after the attack on a train carrying Rot-Weiss Essen fans last weekend. “For some time now we have observed an evolution that fills us with concern, which increasingly questions our values,” the club explained.
We will see if the election of Sebastian Eggert as the new president of the club serves as a consensus figure to calm the waters.
It is not the first similar case
His, yes, is not the first case of the ultra who becomes president of the club of his loves. Recently, in 2022, Kay Berstein emerged as the top manager of Hertha Berlin, surpassing the ‘political’ candidate Frank Steffel. He was only able to hold office until last January, when he suddenly died.
