Official confirmation here
Steffen Baumgart becomes the new Union coach
Updated 12/30/2024 – 2:14 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
That was quick: After Bo Svensson was fired, Union Berlin found a new coach to take over the team in the second half of the season.
Union Berlin has found a successor for fired coach Bo Svensson. As the Bundesliga club officially announced on Monday, Steffen Baumgart will be the Dane’s successor. The TV broadcaster Sky and the “Berliner Kurier” had previously reported on an agreement. The decision doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as Baumgart’s commitment had been expected.
The now 52-year-old played for two seasons with the then second division club from the summer of 2002 and achieved cult status among the “Iron” fans (68 competitive games, 22 goals). Baumgart coached Hamburger SV until November 24th.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to the Bundesliga and to Union. It’s certainly an advantage to know the club and many people here well. We don’t have a long preparation time and will work intensively with the players to prepare for the ones ahead of us “To be prepared for the tasks,” explained Baumgart in an official club statement. “Union offers very good conditions to be successful. I would like to make the best possible use of these together with the coaching team, the supervisors and the team.”
After parting ways with Svensson after less than six months, the Köpenick team urgently needed a new coach who could get started without a long period of training and getting used to it. Under the Dane Svensson, Union had recently failed to win nine competitive games in a row. André Breitenreiter, who had also been speculated about, has been the new coach at Hannover 96 in the 2nd league since Sunday.
According to the “Bild” newspaper, Union’s professional football director Horst Heldt is said to have been particularly concerned with Baumgart. Both know each other from their time together at 1. FC Köln. Heldt brought Baumgart to the Rhine in 2021. “We chose Steffen Baumgart because we are convinced that he is the right type of coach for us. His way of leading a team, encouraging and challenging players was an important aspect of our decision. In addition, “He has Bundesliga experience and knows Union very well,” said Horst Heldt.
He and club president Dirk Zingler didn’t have much time to fill the position. On January 2nd, Union will start training again, and on January 11th there will be a championship game against promoted team 1. FC Heidenheim. Four days later, FC Augsburg will be guests at the end of the first half of the season. Union starts the second half of the season with the home game against Mainz 05 on January 19th. A week later, the Köpenickers play in Hamburg against newly promoted St. Pauli. With Baumgart as the new coach.