Bitter end to a dream marriage
Coach Urs Fischer leaves Union Berlin
November 15, 2023, 9:53 a.m
Union Berlin and Urs Fischer are going their separate ways. After an unprecedented crash, the Swiss is leaving the Bundesliga club with immediate effect. The Champions League participant has been without a win in 14 competitive games, has lost nine Bundesliga games in a row and is in 18th place in the Bundesliga.
The dream marriage of the Bundesliga is history. Union Berlin and coach Urs Fischer have parted ways amicably. The 57-year-old Swiss is leaving the Bundesliga club after five immensely successful years and an unprecedented downturn in the past three months. The Köpenickers fell to the bottom of the league table and recently suffered nine Bundesliga defeats in a row. Last weekend they went down 4-0 to leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
“For me personally and certainly for the entire Union family, this is a very sad moment. It hurts that we have not been able to break the negative trend of the last few weeks,” said Union President Dirk Zingler. “Looking at the time we spent together and the successes we celebrated together, I am grateful and proud. As painful as this separation is, Urs Fischer leaves as a friend who will always be welcomed by us with open arms.”
The meteoric rise is followed by free fall
Urs Fischer took over Union Berlin in the second division in the summer of 2018. From there he took giant steps to lead the Köpenick club first into the Bundesliga, then into the Conference and Europa League and, this summer, into the Champions League. The Swiss also collected personal awards along the way and was voted “Coach of the Year” by various football specialist magazines as well as by football professionals and coaching colleagues in the summer of 2023.
But after two wins at the start of the 2023/2024 Bundesliga season, an incredible negative series followed that was not limited to the Bundesliga. After a total of twelve competitive defeats in a row, Union was only able to score a point again last week with a 1-1 draw in the Champions League at SSC Naples. But the negative trend continued in the league.
“The last few weeks have taken a lot of energy. We tried a lot, the team put in a lot, but it didn’t pay off in results,” said Fischer. “I am very grateful for the trust that I have always felt here. Nevertheless, it feels right when a change happens now: sometimes a different face, a different way of addressing a team helps to trigger development .”
For the time being, current U19 coach Marco Grote will lead the training of the first division team, the club announced. The 51-year-old is supported by assistant coach Marie-Louise Eta.