“I get stuck in everywhere”

Frankfurt, Freiburg, Stuttgart and now finally, Berlin! Hertha BSC will be the fourth club that Marc Oliver Kempf has joined, as well as the fourth Bundesliga side in his career so far. However, his connection to the capital city runs back to his childhood. “I grew up watching the Bundesliga. I remember watching on the weekend with my brother, which was a huge highlight for us,” the 26-year-old said. Kempf has now moved to the capital city, signing a contract until 2026. In an interview with herthabsc.de, the centre-back spoke about what the Hertha fans can expect from our new number 20, how Fredi Bobic convinced him to join and how having kids has changed his life.

herthabsc.de: Marc Oliver, welcome to Hertha BSC. This probably isn’t the first time you’ve been asked this question, but we wanted to start by asking: Marc Oliver, Marc or Oliver – how should we address you?

Kempf: Thank you. Marc is fine, that’s what most people call me. I only get called Marc Oliver on TV or on the official line-up. It’s a typical middle name, but at some point someone added in the hyphen for whatever reason (grins). I don’t spell it with a hyphen. I also have a few nicknames. Early on I used to be called ‘Kämpfer,’ but in recent years it’s changed to ‘Kempfi’ – one of those two definitely fits well to me (laughs).

herthabsc.de: Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s talk about the move: if we are to believe the rumours, then this transfer has been in the works for a while. How happy are you that it’s now happened during the winter break?

Kempf: Based on the last few weeks in Stuttgart, I feel like my desire to move elsewhere during the winter grew. That’s why I’m very happy that the transfer has already gone through now and that I will be able to play the second half of the season with my new teammates. We have a tough challenge ahead of us, but I’m looking forward to pitching in.

herthabsc.de: Describe to us what the discussions were like. What were the talks with the club like and what made you choose Hertha BSC in the end?

Kempf: I had a really good talk with Fredi Bobic. I knew from his time in Frankfurt that he was interested in me and that’s a good feeling, when someone has maintained an interest in you over a long period. In general, I’m someone who enjoys a challenge. The club are also in a great city, in Berlin. I have a good feeling that I will be able to meet some cool people with whom I will be able to work well together with.

herthabsc.de: You’re 1.86 metres tall, left-footed and a tough tackler. What kind of defender can our fans look forward to seeing on the pitch?

Kempf: I always find it hard to talk about myself. But, it’s a mix of everything. I try to help build up the play from the back and there’s nothing I won’t do on the pitch. I get stuck in everywhere. The fans can look forward to a stand-up guy, one who give his all for the team and brings a strong mentality with him.

herthabsc.de: Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg, VfB Stuttgart, and now Hertha BSC. You look to be a real fan of the Bundesliga. What fascinates you about the league?

Kempf: The main thing is that I’ve mainly grown up with the Bundesliga. I enjoy remembering the times when I used to watch the Bundesliga with my brother on the weekends – that was a big highlight for us. Of course, the language is also an important factor, not just for me but for my family too. I’ve been married for more than two years now and have an 18-month old son, so it’s extremely important for me to have good surroundings and a good home for my family.

herthabsc.de: You’ve lined up against us five times in your career, and even scored two goals – looks like you enjoy Hertha. How much are you looking forward to your time here?

Kempf: The first thing is that I’m happy to already be able to on the training pitch with the lads from Wednesday. I couldn’t wait to arrive here in Berlin for the last few days. I just want to give my all here and I believe that some great things can happen here at Hertha in the near future. It’s all about blood, sweat and tears, because everyone knows that you don’t get gifts here. I want to do my bit in bringing us success.

herthabsc.de: You’ve already played with some of your new teammates, like Alexander Schwolow, Niklas Stark, Lukas Klünter, Santiago Ascacíbar, Vladimír Darida and Davie Selke, and you know our team manager, Hermann Dörner. Have you chatted to any of the lads about our club?

Kempf: Nik (Niklas Stark, ed.) and I know each other pretty well, so we talk about our business of football now and again, but I didn’t chat to anyone about the club explicitly in the build-up to my move. I built up my own opinion; for me, it’s important that I convince myself of things and come to my own decisions.

herthabsc.de: Now, we’ve spoken a lot about your past connections to the club, but let’s look to the future: What are your personal goals here, and perhaps your plans with the team?

Kempf: I want to put in good performances and help the team, so that we can catch up to the rest of the league quickly and get out of the lower end of the table. We don’t want anything to do with a relegation battle. In the long term, we want to build something good here and keep looking forward instead of over our shoulders – that‘s better for us all. I also want to bring my knack of scoring with me, as I’ve already got three this season. I’ve already broken my goalscoring record in a single season, and I want to keep going (smiles)!

herthabsc.de: To finish off, let’s talk about things off the pitch. Who are you bringing with you to Berlin, do you know the city already, and how do you like spending time away from football?

Kempf: In my younger years I enjoyed poker and things like that. Since my son barely sleeps through the day, I’m a full-time dad when I’m at home. I enjoy every moment I get with my little one and my wife. A lot changes when you get children, but I wouldn’t miss it for the world. We’re planning for the two of them to come to Berlin in the next couple of weeks. One thing I shouldn’t forget to mention is that I’m looking forward to hearing the Berlin accent (laughs)!