Oliver Ruhnert is reportedly considering a return to football. The 53-year-old will probably hold talks with Union after his failed foray into politics.
As reported by the Berliner Morgenpost, talks are currently being held at Union Berlin regarding Ruhnert’s return. The native of the Sauerland region of Germany had suspended his duties from January because he wanted to devote himself entirely to his political ambitions. Specifically, Ruhnert had applied for a seat in the Bundestag for the political party Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht.
However, the BSW failed to clear the five-percent hurdle on Sunday. Ruhnert, who received 8.6 percent of the vote (5th place) in his constituency of Berlin-Marzahn-Hellersdorf, was unable to enter parliament. Now he is aiming to return to football. “Everyone knows how much I love my job in football. Of course I want to continue to be active there,” he is quoted as saying by t-online. “People who run for public office often return to their jobs if they don’t win.”
Ruhnert was managing director at Köpenick between May 2018 and June 2024. Last summer, he returned to the position of chief scout, which he had already held from August 2017. In this role, he continued to play a key role in shaping the squad.
His successor in the management was Horst Heldt. He does not want to dispute his position, as he has now made clear. “A lot is possible in football,” said Ruhnert: “To be honest, I feel very comfortable in my role as chief scout and am not currently seeking other roles.”
His contract with Union Berlin is officially still suspended until the end of February. Before moving to Berlin, Ruhnert spent years working as a scout, coach in the youth sector and head of the NLZ at Schalke 04.
