The scrappy 1:0 win over Hannover on the opening day of 2009/10 remained the only bright spot for a long time. Eight straight defeats followed, then 17 winless games in a row. In October 2009 Favre threw in the towel.\n\nPreetz chose Friedhelm Funkel as his replacement – another bad call.
Hertha became a laughing stock, spent from Matchday 6 to Matchday 34 rooted to last place, and were relegated. No missed chance hurt as much, or proved as costly, as the championship chance squandered the year before.