“Involved in all planning”
Horst Heldt takes over at Union Berlin
May 22, 2024, 7:48 a.m
Union Berlin starts the season as a Champions League participant, but in the end the club can only narrowly avoid relegation from the Bundesliga. Now a sporting realignment is imminent. The beginning has been made, with Horst Heldt, an experienced manager taking responsibility.
Horst Heldt becomes the new sports director at Bundesliga soccer team 1. FC Union Berlin. Three years after leaving Cologne, the 54-year-old will succeed Oliver Ruhnert at the Eisernen from July 1st, as the Köpenick team announced. Ruhnert had just extended his contract with Union, but wants to take a step back and focus on scouting at his own request. The TV broadcaster Sky had previously reported on the agreement.
Heldt is considered an expert on the Bundesliga scene. In 2007 he became German champion as manager of VfB Stuttgart. Most recently, he was managing director at 1. FC Köln until 2021.
“With Horst Heldt we were able to gain an experienced Bundesliga manager who will join us in the summer, but is already involved in all planning. Oliver Ruhnert will remain with us and will work closely with Horst Heldt,” said Dirk Zingler a club announcement. Ruhnert and Heldt know each other from their time together at Schalke 04.
Held sees Union as a “stable size”
After a disappointing season and unfortunate transfers, Heldt now has the responsibility to push ahead with squad planning for a more successful season. First and foremost, the Berliners are looking for a new coach before their sixth Bundesliga season. The squad is facing upheaval. Brenden Aaronson, Robin Knoche and Jakob Busk are already gone. Robin Gosen’s departure could also be imminent.
Heldt sees Union as a “stable force” in German professional football. “The development of the last few years has been extraordinarily rapid and extremely impressive. It is not surprising that a difficult season has to be overcome. That is part of establishing yourself in the Bundesliga and can prove to be very valuable for the future,” Heldt continued.
Ruhnert’s unfortunate transfers
Ruhnert came to Berlin in 2017 from Schalke 04, where he was head of the youth department, and initially worked as chief scout. After the end of his first season, which was disappointing for Union, he was promoted to managing director and was supposed to look for a coach. Shortly afterwards, the Iron Men signed the Swiss Urs Fischer. The most successful era in the club’s history began. Ruhnert formed a triumvirate with Fischer and President Zingler that took the club to new heights.
But the Berliners’ crash last season also raised doubts about Ruhnert’s purchasing policy. Players like Gosens, Kevin Volland and Leonardo Bonucci clearly fell short of expectations in Union’s first Champions League season.
Ruhnert looks back on the last seven years with pride. “We have achieved unimaginable successes here at Union by joining forces and are now facing the sixth Bundesliga season. All of that took a lot of energy, but it is a time that I never want to miss,” said the 52-year-old.