After the dismissal of Bo Svensson and his coaching team, Union Berlin is currently looking for a coach. André Breitenreiter could be a possible candidate to replace him.
After the dismissal of head coach Bo Svensson and his coaching team, Union Berlin is currently looking for a new coach. “A decision on who will prepare the team for the upcoming tasks from January 2, 2025 will be made in the next few days,” the club’s press release said. So the people in charge don’t have much time left to present a new coach by the start of training.
Rather, an external coach is to be hired. In addition, the current coaching staff is meager because, in addition to Svensson, the two assistant coaches Babak Keyhanfar and Kristoffer Wichmann, as well as video analyst Tijan Njie, are no longer in office. Only athletic trainer Martin Krüger, goalkeeping coach Michael Gspurning and video analyst Tobias Drössler are currently available. Which automatically means that the new head coach would also have to bring new staff with him.
Breitenreiter last at Huddersfield Town
With regard to the search for a coach, André Breitenreiter could be a possible candidate to succeed Svensson due to their long-standing relationship. In his previous role, Union sporting director Horst Heldt guided the Langenhagen-born coach to FC Schalke 04 in the summer of 2015 and to Hannover 96 in March 2017. Since then, the two have been in regular contact and have exchanged ideas.
Most recently, the 51-year-old was responsible for the fortunes of the English club Huddersfield Town. However, with only moderate success: after only 13 games, an average of 0.85 points per game and the resulting relegation to the 3rd division, Breitenreiter and the club mutually agreed to part ways. But it is also clear that Union Berlin will talk to several possible candidates. But one of them could be Breitenreiter.
The name Baumgart could also come up
It would also come as a surprise if the name Steffen Baumgart did not come up in Köpenick. The 52-year-old was released from Hamburger SV at the end of November, having previously been in charge at Paderborn and Cologne. Baumgart has a good standing at Union Berlin, after all, he played for the Irons himself between 2002 and 2004 during his playing days.
With 23 goals in 68 games, the striker became a crowd favorite, scored goals as captain, and was named “Unioner of the Year” twice in 2003 and 2004. In addition, there is a personal connection to Union sporting director Horst Heldt, who was also Breitenreiter’s boss at 1. FC Cologne. Heldt had signed Baumgart as the new coach of “Effzeh” shortly before the end of his time at Cologne.
