Union Berlin have announced the departure of long-serving head coach, Urs Fischer with immediate effect after a run of 13 defeats in 14 games that leaves the south-East Capital side bottom of Bundesliga, bottom of Group C in the Champions League and knocked out of the DFB Pokal.
However, Urs Fischer will go down as the most successful coach in Union Berlin history.
Urs Fischer has been in charge since 2018 and in his first season lifted Union to their first promotion into the Bundesliga. The Swiss Coach then led the team to three consecutive top seven finishes as Union qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history last season.
Fischer was subsequently voted “Coach of the Year” last season and much-loved in Köpenick. Following the mutual separation, President of the club, Dirk Zingler praised his former Head Coach as “outstanding”:
“I recently made it clear that Urs Fischer is an outstanding coach, and I remain absolutely convinced of that. His personality and his successful work have characterised our club in recent years and opened many new opportunities for us. In the five and a half years that we have worked together, we have developed a respect and trust for each other that has enabled us to always exchange ideas openly and honestly. Together, we have now come to the conclusion that the time has come to take a different path.”
Speaking to the club website, Urs Fischer struck a similar conciliatory tone:
“The last few weeks have cost a lot of strength. We’ve tried a lot, and the team has put in a lot of effort, but it hasn’t paid off in terms of results. I am very grateful for the confidence I have always felt here. Nevertheless, it feels right to make a change now. Sometimes a different face, a different way of addressing a team helps to spark a development.”
The search now begins for Urs Fischer’s replacement but Union U19 coach Marco Grote will be in charge of the team as interim coach until further notice. The former VfL Osnabrück coach will be supported by assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta.
GGFN | Oscar O’Mara
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