Sebastian Hertner (2 May 1991 â 21 December 2025) was a German professional footballer who played as a defender. Hertner spent his entire professional career in Germany, and played in the 2. Bundesliga for 1860 Munich, Erzgebirge Aue and Darmstadt 98. He was part of the German under-18 and under-19 youth national teams between 2008 and 2009.
He died in a ski lift accident in Montenegro on 21 December 2025.
Born on 2 May 1991 in Leonberg, Hertner started his career at the academy of KSG Gerlingen, before joining the academy of VfB Stuttgart in 2005. In the summer of 2009, Hertner joined VfB Stuttgart II for the 2009âÂÂ10 season. Over three years, he made 65 appearances for Stuttgart II, scoring once. He joined Schalke 04 II in 2012, making 35 appearances in the Regionalliga West where he was the captain.
After a season at Schalke 04 II, Hertner joined 1860 Munich on a three-year contract. In a friendly match against St. Gallen in July 2013, Hertner tore a muscle in his left thigh, meaning he missed the first game of the season against FC St. Pauli. He made his debut for 1860 Munich, coming on as a half-time substitute for Grzegorz Wojtkowiak in a DFB-Pokal 4âÂÂ3 penalties victory over 1. FC Heidenheim, following a 1âÂÂ1 draw. Over the course of the 2013âÂÂ14 season, he made 21 league appearances in the 2. Bundesliga, whilst he made just one league appearance in the 2014âÂÂ15 season before leaving on loan.
On 20 January 2015, Hertner joined 2. Bundesliga side Erzgebirge Aue on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut for Aue on 6 February 2015 as a 65th-minute substitute in a 2âÂÂ0 victory over RB Leipzig. Despite their relegation to the 3. Liga, it was announced he would join Aue on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee, signing a one-year contract with the club after making 10 appearances during his loan spell there. He scored his first goal for the club and the second of his career on 15 August 2015; a late penalty in a 2âÂÂ0 victory at home to Stuttgarter Kickers. Having been an integral part of the Aue team that would eventually win promotion back to the 2. Bundesliga come the end of the season, Hertner signed a two-year contract extension with Aue in February 2016, which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2018. During the 2015âÂÂ16 season, he made 31 league appearances, scoring once.
The 2016âÂÂ17 season marked a return to the 2. Bundesliga for Erzgebirge Aue, though Hertner retained his place in the starting line-up, missing just two league matches all season. It was a largely unremarkable season for the club, finishing 14th and three points above the relegation play-off place. Hertner remained at the club for the 2017âÂÂ18 season, though played a less vital role, starting just 16 games, in a season where Aue narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 16th.
With his contract having not been renewed at Erzgebirge Aue, Hertner joined newly relegated 2. Bundesliga team Darmstadt 98 in the summer of 2018 on a two-year contract. He made his competitive debut for Darmstadt on 5 August 2018, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 1âÂÂ0 win against Paderborn 07 in their opening game of the season. However, first-team opportunities for Hertner were limited and he made just five appearances in all competitions across the 2018âÂÂ19 season, and played just twice during the 2019âÂÂ20 season. He was released by Darmstadt in summer 2020.
Hertner signed a one-year contract with 3. Liga side VfB Lübeck in September 2020. He transferred to Türkgücü München in June 2021.
On 23 January 2022, Hertner joined BFC Dynamo and stayed there for half a year. He joined FC Teutonia Ottensen in September 2022, and transferred to ETSV Hamburg in summer 2024, alongside fellow Teutonia Ottensen players Tjorben Uphoff and Ridel Monteiro. He remained at the club until his death in December 2025.
Hertner appeared for the Germany under-18 team and the under-19 team, having made 14 appearances for the former and five for the latter.
Hertner died in a ski lift accident on Savin Kuk in à ½abljak, Montenegro, on 21 December 2025. The collision of two chairlifts caused him to fall 70 meters. Hertner's wife was injured after being trapped in the ski lift but was eventually rescued. He was 34.