Former Hertha BSC duo return to football with Viktoria Potsdam
After ending their contracts with Hertha BSC, former centre‑back Toni Leistner and midfielder Diego Demme have signed for Viktoria Potsdam in the Brandenburg league, with both players eligible to feature from Tuesday evening.
New contracts and ambitions
Leistner and Demme have each agreed to terms that run until summer 2027, allowing them to continue playing amateur football while pursuing off‑field projects. The move adds a touch of former professional experience to a league that has recently gained prominence.
Quotes and club details
Leistner told, "Das ist ein sehr ambitionierter Verein. Er wurde 2018 gegründet und ist seitdem jedes Jahr aufgestiegen," praising the club’s rapid rise since its 2018 foundation. Viktoria Potsdam, currently top of the table, benefits from several sponsors and aims to maintain its leading position.
Trainer and sport director David Karaschewitz confirmed to the Märkische Allgemeine Zeitung, "Ich kann Vollzug melden. Die Unterlagen beider Spieler gehen heute noch nach Cottbus zum FLB (Fußball‑Landesverband Brandenburg e. V.)." He added that the club sees both players as eager to train and compete.
After Hertha departure, Toni Leistner starts at Viktoria Potsdam
Leistner, who lives in northern Potsdam, is also enrolled in the DFB’s "Players Pathway" programme, preparing for a future role in sport management. Demme, 34, is building a house in Kleinmachnow while co‑owning two pizzerias in Berlin‑Mitte; he declined offers from Italy.
Karaschewitz explained the recruitment process, saying, "Es entstand zuletzt ein Kontakt. Bis vor ein oder zwei Wochen ging es dann in Gesprächen vor allem um Funktionen neben dem Platz. Dann kam die Idee, für Viktoria auch nochmal die Fußballschuhe zu schnüren." Both former professionals have kept fit over the summer.
Their Hertha BSC contracts expired in May, after the club’s 1‑6 defeat at Arminia Bielefeld marked a turbulent end to their tenure. Many players left the Berlin side in the aftermath, and Leistner and Demme chose to step away from the professional game while remaining active on the pitch.
Foto: IMAGO/Matthias Koch