What does a Bundesliga manager do on a Sunday off? Union boss Oliver Ruhnert (50) spends it playing football. In his free time, the Sauerland referee.
By Sebastian Karkos
On the May holiday he was on the line as an assistant: Wattenscheid 09 against FC Gütersloh. Oberliga Westfalen instead of fighting for a place in the European Cup.
Family day at the former Bundesliga club from Bochum, 1200 spectators in the Lohrheide Stadium. Ruhnert enjoys the time in the 5th division: “That’s the basis, that’s the origin of football.”
He waves in front of the grandstand, warms up on the field. At the beginning there are even “Oliver Ruhnert” chants from the block of more than 50 Gütersloh fans.
Background: In 2001/02 he was FC coach for 15 games. During the break, someone from Gütersloh calls out: “And never forget: Iron Union”. Ruhnert smiles, thumbs up. A Wattenscheider laughs: “Oliver Ruhnert is the star here.”
The Union maker doesn’t like to hear that: “I’m not the focus, it’s the teams.”
also read
► Only 1:1 against Fürth! Union gets the million flutter
► After the anthem dispute in Leipzig – Union investor Kölmel: “Russian anthem? That’s nonsense”
The game drags. Only after eleven minutes does Ruhnert, who looks fit for his age, raise the flag for the first time. Gütersloh scored the 1-0 after 27 minutes – it was the only goal.
Only at the end of the duel does it get a bit more hectic. He has to survive a critical offside situation (Ruhnert drops the flag) – and thanks to his experience, he does it confidently.
When referee Jörn Schäfer indicates four minutes of stoppage time, the dissatisfaction of Güterloh’s coach Julian Hesse (33), in front of whom Ruhnert runs up and down for 90 minutes, can be seen. final whistle
Hesse praises Ruhnert: “A personality. It’s always good communication with him, he has a great instinct.”
Ruhnert gets 50 euros for his job on the line. He whistles up to the district league himself – strong for a man with a busy schedule. As an assistant, the premier league is the limit.
What Ruhnert loves as an amateur referee: “You meet a lot of people you know from before. And you have the opportunity, detached from other things, to just focus on something else for 90 minutes.”
By Monday at the latest, he’ll be back to professional football.
