It was in this time that Herbst signed for reigning Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich from the youth team of Hertha Zehlendorf.

However, it was not until the latter half of the season that Herbst made his professional footballing debut, on 21 May 1982, as a substitute in the 3–2 home win over Arminia Bielefeld.

[3] In the following season, Herbst's three goals in 17 games, including a brace[4] in the 3–3 away draw at FC Schalke 04, helped Eintracht Braunschweig successfully escape relegation.

In the twilight of his playing career, Thomas Herbst signed for Hertha Zehlendorf in the Regionalliga Nordost and after two years became player-manager.

[6] He played two games for the club and got them promoted back to the Oberliga in his first season as Verbandsliga Berlin champions, and carried on as manager until 2006.