It will be a very special game for Urs Fischer: The Swiss coach returns to Union Berlin with 1. FSV Mainz 05 – an emotional affair.
It will be a very special game for Urs Fischer: The Swiss coach returns to Union Berlin with 1. FSV Mainz 05 – an emotional affair.
You are never completely forgotten at the Alte Försterei, Urs Fischer knows this too well. Deserving former Union Berlin players and employees are usually warmly welcomed before kick-off at home games with a shout of “Football God”. In Köpenick, where rituals and traditions are maintained with pathos, this is considered good form.
Urs Fischer is both a friend and an opponent
On Saturday, when the Berlin Bundesliga bottom team host FSV Mainz 05 (3:30 p.m./live in the SWR1 Stadium) for the first home game of the new year, it will be particularly loud: Fischer is returning to his old place of work for the first time – as a friend and opponent at the same time. Despite his cult status in southeast Berlin, the Swiss coach doesn’t want to give gifts for guests.
“I hope that we take something tangible from Berlin.”
“I had an amazing time there. It will certainly be emotional. If I said anything else, I would be lying,” said Fischer, who took on the difficult rescue mission in Mainz in December: “But I’m now the coach of Mainz 05. I’m looking forward to the game and hope that we take something worthwhile from Berlin.”
That would confirm the pre-Christmas trend reversal. Fischer’s calm manner has stabilized Mainz, and the FSV is still undefeated under Bo Henriksen’s successor. In the Conference League, Mainz managed a draw and a win under Fischer, in the Bundesliga the situation remained the same despite winning two points – including the respectable success at Bayern Munich (2:2) – explosive.
Acute danger of relegation for Mainz 05
With just eight points from 15 games, bottom club Mainz is in acute relegation trouble. A victory at Union would alleviate this somewhat. That’s exactly what Fischer is aiming for: “If you want to come out from behind, you need three points.”
The Berliners, who are in secure midfield under Steffen Baumgart – the third head coach since Fischer was fired in November 2023 – would probably forgive Fischer a win in his old homeland. His legacy is too great. With a clear hand, he had led the club into never-imaginable heights. In May 2019, Union was promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time, followed by staying in the league and qualifying for international competition three times, with the Champions League as the highlight.
In the summer of 2023, the club deviated slightly from its path for the first time thanks to new financial opportunities due to qualification for the premier class. Union signed expensive and well-known professionals in national players Robin Gosens, Kevin Volland and European champion Leonardo Bonucci. The new additions didn’t make a difference and the uncertainty in the squad increased from defeat to defeat. In the end, Fischer had to leave. Urs Fischer is still a “football god” for Berlin fans.
