Podcast “Done Deals”: The path from Union Berlin to the Champions League

“Done Deals” with Mattuschka

Union Berlin is the only Bundesliga club to have improved every season over the past four years, increasing their squad value from €35m to €139m through unconventional means. The “iron” get experienced professionals, who often don’t play a very important role at other clubs, sell top performers regularly in winter and surprised with the almost transfer of world star Isco.

Ex-Unioner Torsten “Tusche” Mattuschka says: “The team council was asked if they liked Isco’s commitment. Which is not normal in the Bundesliga. Oliver Ruhnert has also repeatedly informed the team about new signings – before they become public.” What makes Union different and how this path has led to the Champions League is the subject of the Transfermarkt podcast “Done Deals”. Listen now at Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

In this “iron” episode, host Max Ropers talks to Mattuschka, who made 281 appearances for Union, and Nils Malzahn from the “Berliner Zeitung” about the many transfers that caused a high turnover in the squad. Since Urs Fischer took office in 2018, continuity has been the focus on the coaching bench.

Malzahn says: “I had this obligation at the time and from today’s perspective I would also see it as a very courageous and initially unpopular, unconventional decision.” Fischer had to leave FC Basel in 2017 despite the championship because he played unattractive football – he took a year off and then started in the 2nd division. Basel hasn’t been champion since 2017 and things have only gone uphill for Union.

Union Berlin with “ridiculed” transfers to the Champions League

“And I think that Union has shown this courage over and over again in the years that have followed with player transfers,” says Malzahn. Head of sport Ruhnert, who brought in Fischer at the start of his term in 2018, has made eleven to 20 additions every season since then. According to Mattuschka, Union was initially “ridiculed” for many of them. Ruhnert brought in players that Fischer should do better, such as Kevin Behrens, who had his best season at the age of 32 on his way to the Champions League.

“Who would have thought that three years ago when he played in Sandhausen? No one. I don’t think anyone would have said that the boy would play in the Bundesliga and next season in the Champions League. He probably doesn’t either,” says Mattuschka. “But these are stories like this and this fantasy that only Union has with certain transfers, to say: ‘Hey come on, that’s a boy, even if I throw in ten minutes, something always happens.'”

The list of players whose form curve rose sharply in the Union jersey is long: Rafal Gikiewicz, Julian Ryerson, Sebastian Andersson, Sheraldo Becker, Marvin Friedrich, Robert Andrich, Robin Knoche, Taiwo Awoniyi, Rani Khedira … and it’s still missing some. Where new players get a chance, others have to make room. “Union is the only club that has always made a step up. This is of course at the expense of the staff. You have to adapt to these circumstances somehow. I think that’s ultimately the explanation for why there’s always such a minor upheaval and you don’t continue playing for three, four, five years with almost the same squad or only with minor changes,” says Union expert Malzahn.

In the TM podcast “Done Deals” you can find out how Union Berlin makes big profits with transfers that are often free of charge, how the club benefits from the continuity under President Dirk Zingler and what “Tusche” has to say to critics of Fischer’s playing style.

To home page