Steffen Baumgart is the new coach at 1. FC Union Berlin

Former crowd favorite Steffen Baumgart returns to 1. FC Union Berlin after more than two decades. The Bundesliga club confirmed this according to reports from the TV channel Sky and the “Berliner Kurier”. Accordingly, the 52-year-old native of Rostock will be the new coach of the recently weak Bundesliga soccer team. After Christmas, Union separated from Bo Svensson.

“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,” explained Union professional football director Horst Heldt.

Sky had previously reported that Baumgart was the hottest candidate for the vacant coaching position at his former club. The former professional, also known as a coach for his combative and direct style, was most recently employed at Hamburger SV. The collaboration ended on November 24th, and Baumgart has been available again since then.

He is no stranger to the Alte Försterei. Baumgart played for the then second division team for two seasons from the summer of 2002 and achieved cult status among the Eiserne fans. He was voted Union Footballer of the Year twice. After his move into coaching, Baumgart’s name was repeatedly mentioned in the media when the position at Union had to be filled. Like now. However, his strong personality was always seen as a possible obstacle to the Iron’s power structure.

“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 be prepared for the tasks ahead of us,” said Baumgart, “Union offers very good ones I want to make the best possible use of these conditions together with the coaching team, the supervisors and the team.”

Baumgart will now succeed Bo Svenssson. The Dane was released again after less than six months. Since the early retirement of successful coach Urs Fischer in November 2023, there has been neither consistency nor peace in the coaching position. Under Svensson, the Iron Men had failed to win nine competitive games in a row, lost six of them and slipped to twelfth place in the table.

After the separation, the Köpenick team urgently needed a new coach who could get started without a long period of training and getting used to it. André Breitenreiter, who had also been speculated about, has been the new coach at Hannover 96 in the 2nd league since Sunday.

And Baumgart was on the market and available after parting ways with Hamburger SV on November 24th. Union’s professional football director Heldt and the Rostock native also know each other from their time together at 1. FC Köln. “He is a coach who doesn’t need a long start-up time and can quickly give a team a clear direction,” Heldt said of Baumgart.

For the new season, those in charge around Heldt and club president Dirk Zingler presented Svensson as the new bearer of hope. During the winless series, the Berliners were also eliminated from the DFB Cup.

Baumgart has to adapt quickly to his new team. On January 2nd, Union will start training after the short and turbulent winter break. A test match against league rivals Holstein Kiel in the Alte Försterei (1 p.m.) has already been scheduled for next Sunday – Baumgart’s birthday – under Svensson. On January 11th there will be the championship game at 1. FC Heidenheim (3.30 p.m./Sky). 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.