Baumgart takes the helm: Union Berlin faces a new football chapter!

Baumgart takes the helm: Union Berlin faces a new football chapter!

Steffen Baumgart is the new head coach of 1. FC Union Berlin. He will take up his position on January 2, 2025 and brings extensive experience in the Bundesliga both as a player and as a coach.

Baumgart, who was born in Rostock and is 52 years old, has played 225 games in the Bundesliga, in which he scored 29 goals and provided 16 assists. In the second division his numbers come to 142 games, 35 goals and 10 assists. He was also a player for 1. FC Union Berlin from 2002 to 2004, where he scored 22 goals and provided 8 assists in 68 competitive games. During this time he also served as captain of the team and was voted “Union Footballer of the Year” twice.

New chapter for the squad

With Baumgart's commitment, a new opportunity begins for the Union players, which could result in both winners and losers in the squad. The previous coach, Bo Svensson, was fired due to an unsuccessful concept. Baumgart favors a chain of four, while a chain of five was used under Svensson. Players like Diogo Leite could receive less playing time in this new system as he is no longer deployed as a central defender. In a friendly against Kiel, Kevin Vogt and Danilho Doekhi were preferred.

Attacker Jordan Siebatcheu has already played 619 minutes this season without scoring a goal, potentially relegating him to the bench. Andrej Ilic, on the other hand, showed good performances in the friendly and could start in the next league game. Laszlo Benes, who hardly received any playing time under Svensson, is also hoping for a bigger role under Baumgart. Benes prepared a goal in the friendly against Kiel and could be used as a playmaker in the new system.

In addition to Baumgart, assistant coach Sebastian Bönig and game analyst Adrian Wittmann are also returning to the coaching team. Other assistant coaches are René Wagner and Kevin McKenna, while Michael Gspurning will act as goalkeeping coach and Martin Krüger and Johannes Thienel will act as athletic and rehabilitation coaches. Horst Heldt, managing director of men's professional football, is positive about Baumgart's leadership style and Bundesliga experience.

The first training session under Baumgart will take place publicly on January 2nd, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. The first league match under his direction will be played on January 5, 2025 against Holstein Kiel in the An der Alten Försterei stadium, kick-off at 1 p.m rbb24 reported.

Overall, Baumgart will have the opportunity to work with an experienced team. He emphasizes the good conditions at Union and the need for intensive work with the team, which gives hope for an exciting future for the club the official website of 1. FC Union Berlin explains.

– Submitted by West-East media