The weeks after the 2010 World Cup felt electric in the Brandt house. Niklas, now twenty years old, still helped out at the metal workshop during the day, but his mind was somewhere else. The bold bets he had pushed on his brothers had paid off handsomely.
Erik, twenty-seven now and still working long hours with their father, came home one evening waving a thick envelope. He dropped it on the kitchen table with a loud slap.
"Group stage is over and we're already up," he laughed. "Spain looked unstoppable, just like you said. Some of the dark horse bets are printing money."
Jonas, twenty-three and still splitting time between the workshop and night classes, grinned as he counted his share. "I can't believe you called the Netherlands reaching the final. Everyone at the pub laughed at us."
Lukas Brandt sat at the head of the table eating his usual Finkenwerder Scholle. He shook his head but couldn't hide his smile. "Just don't get stupid with it. We're working people."
Hanna added gently, "And stay away from trouble. Betting is one thing. Acting like those Ultras is another."
The Brandt family had always been simple. Hard work, cold beer on weekends, and supporting HSV no matter what. Gambling on football was normal in Wilhelmsburg. As long as it didn't turn into fights or shady deals, the parents stayed quiet.
As the tournament moved into the knockout stages, the winnings kept growing. Erik made back his five thousand euros and then a lot more. Jonas was walking around with a permanent smile. Niklas stayed calm through all of it. He already knew how the final would end.
On the night of the final, the family gathered in the living room. Spain in red, Netherlands in orange. Every time Spain almost scored, Erik and Jonas jumped up shouting. Niklas sat quietly on the couch, watching history unfold exactly as he remembered.
Spain won 1-0 after extra time. A beautiful goal from the little magician, Andrés Iniesta.
The brothers went wild. Erik lifted Niklas off the ground in a crushing hug. Jonas danced around the room like a madman. Even their father raised his beer in celebration.
Later that night, the three brothers sat on the grass near the Veringkanal. Bottles of Alsterwasser rested beside them. The warm summer air smelled of the harbor.
Erik lay on his back, staring at the stars. "I don't want to spend my life cutting metal forever," he said quietly. "We just made more in one month than two years of overtime at the shop."
Jonas kept counting his money, eyes shining. "We could start something. Anything but the same old routine."
Niklas took a slow sip of his drink. "You should go for it, Erik. Talk to Dad. Study the markets properly. Mom will support you."
He pushed most of his own winnings toward his eldest brother. Jonas followed right after. Erik looked at the pile of cash in his hands, stunned.
A few nights later, while his brothers talked excitedly about business ideas, Niklas walked alone to Demir's small sports bar near the docks. The same man whose window he had smashed years ago now greeted him with a half-smile.
"You again," Demir said. "Still watching every match like it's life or death."
Niklas rubbed the back of his neck. "I have a deal for you. I'll help clean up in the evenings and keep an eye on the place at night. No pay needed. Just let me watch all the old matches and European games you have."
Demir raised an eyebrow. "You're twenty years old and you want to work for free?"
"I need to study the game properly," Niklas replied. "The way it used to be played… and the way it needs to change."
Demir thought about it, then nodded. "Fine. Deal. But if any trouble comes through that door, you help me handle it."
From that night on, Niklas spent his evenings at the bar after finishing at the workshop. While the city slept, he watched hours of old top five European league games, Champions League classics, and youth tournaments. He filled notebooks with formations, player movements, and tactical notes.
He no longer watched as a fan. He studied like a coach. Slowly, a clear plan formed in his mind.
Hamburger SV was down in the second division and mocked by rivals. But dinosaurs could still wake up.
And Niklas Brandt, with knowledge from 2026 burning inside him, was going to make this one roar louder than ever before.