Bankruptcy series ends success story: Union Berlin separates from coach Urs Fischer.
Bundesliga club Union Berlin has parted ways with coach Urs Fischer. A series of bankruptcies with nine league defeats in a row was the downfall of the successful coach of recent years. Union is now bottom of the table.
Union Berlin has separated from coach Urs Fischer. The Bundesliga club announced this on Wednesday morning. The club speaks of a “joint decision”. Assistant coach Markus Hoffmann is also leaving Union with Fischer. Union U19 coach Marco Grote will be looking after the team as interim coach until further notice. His assistant coach will be Marie-Louise Eta, who previously worked for Unions U19.
Urs Fischer: A change feels right now”
Fischer says about the separation: “The last few weeks have taken a lot of energy. We tried a lot, the team put in a lot, but it didn’t pay off in results. I am very grateful for the trust that I have always felt here. Nevertheless, it feels right when a change happens now: sometimes a different face, a different way of addressing a team helps to trigger development.
He continues: “With Union, I got to know and appreciate an extraordinary club. My thanks go to the players I was able to work with during this time, Markus Hoffmann and my team, those responsible and the club’s employees as well as the fans. It is very fortunate to have experienced this extremely positive type of support. I wish Union only the best and am convinced that they will succeed in staying in the league.”
Urs Fischer reached the Champions League with Union Berlin
Fischer has been under contract with Union Berlin since 2018. In 2019 he and the team made it into the 1st Bundesliga. Very successful years followed, culminating in qualification for the Champions League. But then the slump this year. In the meantime, Union suffered twelve competitive defeats in a row, nine of which were defeats in the Bundesliga.
Last week the negative series was stopped by a 1-1 draw in the premier class at SSC Napoli. But Union couldn’t take the momentum from Italy and went down 4-0 at Bayer Leverkusen. Too much for the club bosses, who stuck with Fischer until the end. Now there is a separation after more than five years.
Ruhnert says goodbye to his former successful coach: “Urs Fischer achieved extraordinary things at Union and led the club to a whole new sporting level. I would like to thank Urs for his commitment and the always respectful and trusting cooperation that has bound us together in the football business for a long time. On behalf of all employees in the licensed player department, I personally wish him all the best and continued professional success.”
