When Pagelsdorf’s car was cracked for the Union start

By Sebastian Karkos

What is the name of the most successful coach in Union history? Urs Fischer (56)? Uwe Neuhaus (62) or Georgi Wassilew (75)? no Frank Pagelsdorf (64)! At least if you take the point average as a basis.

With an average of 2.47 points, Pagelsdorf is far at the top. 30 years ago, in July 1992, the future HSV coach started with the Irons.

Union was keen to sign their first West coach. Horst Ehrmanntraut and Werner Lorant canceled Pagelsdorf.

And the ex-BVB professional still raves about his two years in the Union: “It was easy with the people. They were totally open, honest, down to earth. For me, Union was an oasis of well-being right from the start.”

It was bumpy at first. Keyword apartment search!

Pagelsdorf wanted to move to the center of the capital, but the apartments in the west were too expensive: “I asked the then manager Pedro Brombacher: ‘Where do the players live?’ He said: ‘Most of them in Marzahn.’ Then I thought: ‘I’m moving to Marzahn.’”

45 square meters, prefabricated building – Pagelsdorf still remembers the unfortunate start in the new home: “On the first night my Passat was broken into and the car radio was stolen.”

But Pagelsdorf was not impressed by this. In the first year, Union managed to get promoted to the second division, but the license was revoked.

Pagelsdorf found out from the newspaper – on the holiday flight to Fuerteventura: “I couldn’t shut my mouth, I would have preferred to turn around.”

A year later, Union was not even admitted to the second division promotion round. The iron took part in the German amateur championship after the license was revoked.

Pagelsdorf campaigned four times himself. He says with a laugh: “I wanted to strengthen the team.” And further: “I had a player’s license. I don’t know why either.”

He left Berlin, but stayed in the East, moving to Hansa Rostock. In 1999 he almost ended up back in the capital. Tennis Borussia, then second division, wanted him…