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1. FC Union Berlin

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Union Berlin
Full name1. Fußballclub Union Berlin e. V.
Nickname(s)Die Eisernen (The Iron Ones)[1]
Founded20 January 1966; 58 years ago (1966-01-20)
(preceded by FC Olympia Oberschöneweide, founded 1906)
GroundStadion An der Alten Försterei
Capacity22,012[2]
PresidentDirk Zingler[3]
Head coachBo Svensson
LeagueBundesliga
2023–24Bundesliga, 15th of 18
Websitefc-union-berlin.de
Current season

1. Fußballclub Union Berlin e. V., commonly known as Union Berlin (pronounced [ˈeːɐ̯stɐ ʔɛfˈt͡seː ʔuˈni̯oːn bɛʁˈliːn] ⓘ), is a professional German football club based in Köpenick, Berlin.

The club's origins can be traced to 1906, when its predecessor FC Olympia Oberschöneweide was founded. During the Cold War, Union was based in East Berlin, joining the German league structure upon the reunification of the city and country in 1990.[4] From 2009 until 2019, they competed in the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football. In 2019, Union won promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club's history. In 2021, Union finished seventh in the league to qualify to the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League. In 2022, the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League by finishing fifth. The following season, the club qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history, by finishing fourth in the Bundesliga.

The home ground of the club is the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. It is the second-largest in the German capital and has been home to Union Berlin and its forerunners since it opened in 1920.[5] The stadium also hosts concerts and the annual Weihnachtssingen Christmas carols event.[6]

As of October 2024, Union Berlin has 67,638 official members.[7] The club has become well known for its enthusiastic and creative fan base and its chant "Eisern Union" (Iron Union).[8][9]

History

[edit]

First foundation (1906–1945)

[edit]

The name 1. FC Union Berlin was used by two football clubs that shared a common origin as FC Olympia Oberschöneweide, founded in 1906 in Oberschöneweide, which at that time was a suburb of Berlin. The side took on the name SC Union 06 Oberschöneweide in 1910.[10] Union was one of Berlin's premier clubs[according to whom?] in the interwar period, regularly winning local championships and competing at the national level, including an appearance in the 1923 German championship final which they lost 0–3 to Hamburger SV.

Early on, the team was nicknamed "Schlosserjungs" (English: metalworker-boys) because of their then all blue kit, reminiscent of the typical work clothing worn in the factories of the industrial Oberschöneweide district. The popular cry of Union supporters – "Eisern Union!" (Iron Union) – also emerged at this time.[11] Since its foundation the club has had a distinct working-class image,[according to whom?] in contrast to other local clubs with more middle-class origins, such as Viktoria 89 Berlin, Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin, BSV 92 Berlin or Tennis Borussia Berlin.

In 1933, German football was reorganized under the Third Reich into 16 top-flight divisions known as Gauligen. Oberschöneweide became part of the Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg, where they generally[according to whom?] earned middling,[vague] unexceptional[tone] results. They were relegated in 1935 and returned to first division play in 1936 after only one season's absence.[10] In 1940, the team finished first in Group B of the division and then defeated Blau-Weiß 90 (1–2, 3–0) to win the overall division title. That advanced the club to the national playoffs where they were put out by Rapid Wien in the opening group round (2–3, 1–3).[10] Union resumed its place as an average side.[according to whom?] They were relegated again in 1942 and played the final war-shortened Gauliga season in 1944–45.

Dissolution and split (1945–1961)

[edit]
Coach Hanne Sobek (left) in 1955.
Historical chart of Union Berlin league performance

After World War II, occupying Allied authorities ordered the dissolution of all organizations in Germany, including sports and football associations. A new sport community called SG Oberschöneweide was formed in late 1945 and it played in the City League organized immediately after the war which had four regional departments. The team did not qualify to the newly created Oberliga Berlin (I) in 1946 after a poor season, but was promoted in 1947, won the division title right away and regained club status as SG Union Oberschöneweide during 1948–49.[10]

The club finished the 1949–50 season in second place in Berlin and qualified to take part in the national final rounds. However, escalating Cold War tensions led Soviet authorities to refuse the team permission to travel to take part. Two Union teams then emerged as most players and coaches fled to the west to form Sport-Club Union 06 Berlin which took part in the scheduled playoff match in Kiel against Hamburger SV, losing 0–7.[12][13]

The players remaining in the east carried on as SG Union Oberschöneweide while a number of players who had fled to the west to form SC organized a third side called Berliner Ballspiel-Club Südost.[citation needed] The western team was a strong side until the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, drawing huge crowds to matches in the Olympiastadion.[11] The division of the city led to a change of fortunes for BBC Südost which plays today in the lower divisions before meagre[vague] crowds.

Restart as Union Berlin (1961–1990)

[edit]
Ulrich Prüfke (captain) and Ralph Quest raise the FDGB Pokal trophy in 1968.

The eastern branch of the club went through a number of name changes: Union Oberschöneweide (1950), BSG Motor Oberschöneweide (1951), SC Motor Berlin (1955), TSC Oberschöneweide (1957), TSC Berlin (1963) – finally becoming the football club 1. FC Union Berlin in 1966.

1. FC Union Berlin was founded during the reorganization of East German football in December 1965 and January 1966, when ten dedicated football clubs were created. However, the football department of TSC Berlin was originally not taken into account. Only two clubs were planned for East Berlin, to be formed from the football departments of ASK Vorwärts Berlin and SC Dynamo Berlin. This was already contrary to the original plan, which had envisioned only one football club per district. And the football department of TSC Berlin was only playing in the second tier DDR-Liga at the time.

1. FC Union Berlin was allegedly founded on the initiative of the powerful Herbert Warnke. Herbert Warnke was the chairman of the state-controlled national trade union FDGB and a member of the SED Politburo. Another SED politician and Politburo member who pushed for the founding of 1. FC Union Berlin was the SED First Secretary in East Berlin Paul Verner.[14] Both ASK Vorwärts Berlin and SC Dynamo Berlin were associated with the armed organs (German: Bewaffnete Organe der DDR). Warnke therefore argued for the creation of a third "civilian club" for the working people in East Berlin. He would become a passionate fan of 1. FC Union Berlin and a sponsoring member of the club.[15][16]

1. FC Union Berlin was established in the middle of one of the largest industrial centers in East Germany.[17] 1. FC Union Berlin was initially supported by the FDGB. The intention of the SED to win the support from FDGB for 1. FC Union Berlin was likely well thought out. The FDGB unified all workers in East Germany and therefore was most likely to carry the proper identity for a club of the working people.[16] The club was founded in a ceremony in the clubhouse of VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneheide "Karl Liebknecht" (TRO) in Oberschöneweide on 20 January 1966. The founding of the club was organized by the then-SED First Secretary in Köpenick, Hans Modrow.[18] Like Herbert Warnke, Hans Modrow would be a sponsoring member of the club.[16] SED Politburo member Paul Verner held a speech at the inaugural meeting.[19] SED Politburo member Verner would be a very strong sympathizer of the club.[20]

1. FC Union Berlin was the only football club not playing in the DDR-Oberliga at the time of its founding. As a dedicated football club, it was elevated into the upper tier of privileged elite clubs.[21][22] The official sponsor of 1. FC Union Berlin was the state-owned combine VVB Hochspannungsgeräte und Kabel, which implemented its support through VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree, VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneweide and other local state-owned enterprises.[23] The first club president was the general director of VVB Hochspannungsgeräte und Kabel, Werner Otto, and his deputy was the SED Second Secretary in East Berlin, Hans Wagner.[24][25] Even as a "civilian club", 1. FC Union Berlin was part of the state sports political system.[26][nb 1] The most important positions on the board of 1. FC Union Berlin would exclusively be held by directors of state-owned factories or SED representatives.[24] 1. FC Union Berlin was state-funded and all club decisions had to be reported to the all-powerful central sports agency DTSB.[26] In turn, the DTSB stood under direct control of the SED Central Committee.[27]

The support from the FDGB ended when Herbert Warnke was replaced by Harry Tisch as the chairman of the FDGB in 1975. Tisch had begun his political career in Rostock and instead gave his support to FC Hansa Rostock. This event was remarkable, as it revealed the large influence that high-ranking politicians exerted on football in East Germany.[16] 1. FC Union Berlin would then had to rely on support from the regional district management (German: Bezirksleitung) of the ruling SED party in East Berlin and local state-owned enterprises.[28][29] The main sponsors would be VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree (KWO), VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneweide (TRO) and VEB Werk für Fernsehelektronik (WF).[16][30][31] 1. FC Union Berlin developed a bitter rivalry with BFC Dynamo, which was supported by the Stasi.[11] While their arch rivals won 10 titles in a row, Union yo-yoed between the DDR-Oberliga and the DDR-Liga with very little success. Union managed to win the East German Cup in 1968 when they defeated FC Carl Zeiss Jena 2–1 although they lost in their second cup appearance in 1986 to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig by a score of 1–5.

The East German state-owned film studio DEFA produced a documentary about the supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin in 1989. The documentary is called And Fridays at the Green Hell and follows a group of supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin to both home and away matches during the 1987–88 season.[11][32]

2. Bundesliga era (1990–2019)

[edit]
Supporters choreography in 2010

After German reunification in 1990, the team continued to perform well on the field,[according to whom?] but almost collapsed financially. They managed to hang on through some tight times[tone] and find sponsorship, but only after winning their division in both 1993 and 1994 and each time being denied a license to play in the 2. Bundesliga due to their financial problems. The club had another close brush[tone] with financial failure in 1997.[11]

Union again came close to advancing to the 2. Bundesliga in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, but were disappointed.[vague][according to whom?] They were finally successful in 2000–01, under Bulgarian manager Georgi Vasilev, easily winning the Regionalliga Nord (III) and moving up a division to become the city's second most popular side.[vague] That same[vague] year they appeared in the final of the German Cup where they lost 0–2 to FC Schalke 04, and advanced as far as the second round in UEFA Cup before being put out by Bulgarian side PFC Litex Lovech. The club slipped to the Regionalliga Nord (III) in 2004–05 and then to the NOFV-Oberliga Nord (IV) in 2005–06, but returned to third division play after capturing[tone] the Oberliga title. In 2008–09, Union became one of the founding clubs of the new 3. Liga, and its inaugural champion, securing first place and promotion to the 2. Bundesliga on 10 May.

A controversy erupted[tone] in 2011 when it became publicly known[how?] that club president Dirk Zingler had been a member of the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment for three years during his military service.[33] Only two years before, Zingler had cancelled a sponsorship deal with the company International Sport Promotion (ISP) because the head of the board at the company had been a Stasi officer.[33][34] The Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was the paramilitary wing of the Stasi.[35] Zingler explained that he had sought to spend his military service in Berlin and that he was unaware beforehand that the regiment belonged to the Stasi.[36][34] However, the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was an elite formation; it was not possible to simply apply for the regiment.[36] The Stasi selected who it thought were best fit to serve with the regiment,[36] only accepting recruits who were "loyal to the line".[34] Zingler had also been a member of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) and leader in the Free German Youth (FDJ) at the time.[37][34] Speaking about the reports on Zingler in 2011, Union Press spokesman Christian Arbeit said: "We do have a very unique history, compared to other clubs. But it wasn't us that always claimed we were this big anti-Stasi club. These are stories that get simplified in the media."[38]

On 1 June 2018, Swiss coach Urs Fischer was announced as new head coach of the club.[39] The team remained in the second tier until the 2018–19 season, when they secured a first promotion to the Bundesliga after defeating VfB Stuttgart in the relegation play-offs. The club's supporters invaded the pitch after the victory, but no one was harmed.[40]

Bundesliga era and European football (2019–present)

[edit]

Union Berlin became the first Bundesliga club from the former East Berlin and the sixth from the former East Germany, after Dynamo Dresden, Hansa Rostock, VfB Leipzig, Energie Cottbus, and RB Leipzig. The team is the sixth to win promotion from the 2. Bundesliga by beating the 16th-placed Bundesliga team in the playoff – since it began in the 1981–82 season, the others being Bayer Uerdingen, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Stuttgarter Kickers, 1. FC Nürnberg and Fortuna Düsseldorf. Ahead of Union Berlin's debut season in the Bundesliga, the club signed Neven Subotić,[41] Anthony Ujah[42] and Christian Gentner,[43] as well as re-signing Marvin Friedrich, who had scored a decisive goal against Stuttgart in the play-offs in the previous season to secure promotion for the club.[vague][44] The first ever Bundesliga goal was scored by Sebastian Andersson in a 1–1 draw against Augsburg.[vague][45] On 31 August 2019, the club beat Borussia Dortmund 3–1 in a home game, a result that secured its first win in a Bundesliga game.[46] The team finished the season in 11th place, with Sebastian Andersson scoring 12 goals.

On 22 May 2021, in Union Berlin's second Bundesliga season, the club qualified for the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing seventh, following a 2–1 home win against RB Leipzig, with Max Kruse confirming Union Berlin's first European campaign in twenty years, with a 92nd-minute winner.[vague][47] In the following season, the club finished fifth in the league to qualify to the Europa League, where they reached the round of 16.[48] In the 2022–23 season, Union Berlin qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time in its history, after a 1–0 home win against Werder Bremen on the final matchday.[49]

In the 2023–24 season, the club experienced a bad start including 14 winless competitive matches in a row, hence they decided to separate with coach Urs Fischer by "mutual agreement".[50] Following two consecutive defeats against relegation rivals Bochum and 1. FC Köln in the late stages of the season, Union dropped to the 16th place.[51] On the final matchday, they clinched a 2–1 win over Freiburg in the stoppage-time, securing their continued presence in the Bundesliga.[52]

Stadium

[edit]
Main article: Stadion An der Alten Försterei
The main building of the stadium was inaugurated in late 2013.

In 1920, SC Union Oberschöneweide (forerunner of today's 1. FC Union Berlin) had to find a new home ground as its former pitch had been built over by developers with residential buildings.The club moved a little further away from the city to the north-western part of the borough of Köpenick. The new stadium was officially opened in August 1920 with a match between Oberschöneweide and the then German champions 1. FC Nürnberg (1–2). The inaugural match in at the Alte Försterei had already been played on 17 March, when Union challenged Viktoria 89 Berlin.[10]

When Union won promotion to the DDR-Oberliga (the top flight in East Germany) in 1966, the stadium soon needed to be expanded. The ground was first expanded in 1970 when the Gegengerade terrace was raised, whilst further extensions to the terracing at both ends in the late 1970s and early 1980s increased the capacity furthermore to 22,500. However, the somewhat[vague] spartan facilities at Alte Försterei had quickly begun to show their age and went into a serious decline.

Alte Försterei
The Stadion An der Alten Försterei is the largest single-purpose football stadium in Berlin.

After German reunification, when Union were assigned by the German Football Association to play in the third league, the outdated stadium proved only one of a number of factors[vague] that hampered[tone] the club's push for promotion to higher leagues.

In the middle of 2008, the club decided to finally modernise the stadium, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei (Old Forester's House). Money was still tight,[tone] and so the fans simply built the ground themselves. More than 2,000 Union supporters invested 140,000 working hours to create what is now regarded[by whom?] as the largest football-specific stadium in Berlin.[53] During the redevelopment, Union played at the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark. Inside the stadium an array of outside beer kiosks and open air grills serving bratwurst and pork steaks at the back of the stand provide the culinary staples.[citation needed] The official opening on 12 July 2013, was celebrated with a friendly against Scottish Champions Celtic.[54] It holds 22,012 people with 3,617 seats.[2] The rest is terracing.

World Cup living room

[edit]

In 2014, the club came up with the idea of inviting their fans to take their own sofas to the ground for the whole of the World Cup, to enjoy the televised matches in the company of fellow supporters.[55] More than 800 sofas were placed on the pitch in rows in front of a big screen.[56] The event was later recognized with the Fan Experience Award at The Stadium Business Summit 2015 in Barcelona.[57]

Redevelopments of the Försterei and European Games

[edit]

In 2017, plans were announced[by whom?] to expand the Försterei from 22,012 to 37,000 with the installation of a new tier across the 3 stands that oppose the main stand. It was announced[by whom?] that the plans should start at the end of the 2023/24 season. The President of Union, Dirk Zingler stated that for the 2024/25 Season, Union Berlin will play at the Olympiastadion in the former West Berlin.

In 2021/22, Union Berlin played their UEFA Europa Conference League Games at the Olympiastadion due to UEFA's ban of Terracing, which was lifted in the 2022/23 season in favour of Safe Standing. Union was able to play at the Försterei for the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League campaign. Then, in the Wake of their Qualification to the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League, Dirk Zingler confirmed that Union will be again playing at the Olympiastadion, as well as confirming that the Försterei will be used in the UEFA Youth League. This was not done in guidance of UEFA instead was done willingly. This is because of the demand of ticket sale being too much for the Försterei to handle, which was proven to be the case as in the UCL Season ticket sales, they sold out a total 120,000 tickets for all 3 Home Games (40,000 in each game) in one day

Organization

[edit]
The Alte Försterei (Old foresters house) is the main office of the club.

1. FC Union Berlin is led mostly by fans. Dirk Zingler has served as the club's president since 2004.[58] The club had 41,088 registered members in 2022.[59]

President From To
Werner Otto 20 June 1966 31 July 1967
Heinz Müller 1 August 1967 31 July 1970
Paul Fettback 1 August 1970 31 October 1973
Heinz Hiillert 1 November 1973 25 November 1975
Günter Mielis 26 November 1975 1 March 1982
Dr. Norbert Woick 2 March 1982 31 October 1983
Klaus Brumm 1 November 1983 20 December 1984
Uwe Piontek 21 December 1984 3 November 1987
Hans-Günther Hansel 4 November 1987 5 June 1990
Gerhard Kalweit 6 June 1990 31 July 1993
Detlef Bracht 17 August 1993 31 July 1994
Horst Kahstein 14 November 1994 September 1997
Heiner Bertram 7 October 1997 12 October 2003
Jürgen Schlebrowski 13 October 2003 30 June 2004
Dirk Zingler 1 July 2004

Sport Management

[edit]

Sponsorships

[edit]

1. FC Union Berlin is sponsored by around 300 private and corporate partners.[citation needed]

Young Union Berlin supporter
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1998/99 Nike Skandia
1999/2000 BSR Gruppe
2000/01
2001/02
2002/03 Saller
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06 Nike EastWest
2006/07
2007/08 Silicon Sensor
2008/09 do you football
2009/10 kfzteile24
2010/11
2011/12 Uhlsport
2012/13 f.becker
2013/14
2014/15 kfzteile24
2015/16 Macron
2016/17 Layenberger
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20 Aroundtown SA
2020/21 Adidas
2021/22
2022/23 Wefox

Organizational history

[edit]

The organizational history of 1. FC Union Berlin includes several different clubs and names.

The organizational history 1. FC Union Berlin (in German).
Date Name Note
17 June 1906 FC Olympia Oberschöneweide Founding of FC Olympia Oberschöneweide.
22 July 1906 BTuFC Helgoland, department Oberschöneweide Joined club BTuFC Helgoland as a third team and department in Oberschöneweide.
10 February 1907 BTuFC Union 1892, department Oberschöneweide Joined club BTuFC Union 1892 as a fourth team and department in Oberschöneweide.
20 February 1909 Union Oberschöneweide Joined the football association Verband Berliner Ballspielvereine (VBB) as Union Oberschöneweide, or more precisely SC Union Oberschöneweide.
1945 SG Oberschöneweide SC Union Oberschöneweide was dissolved by the Allied occupation authorities and the club was refounded as SG Oberschöneweide.
December 1948 SG Union Oberschöneweide The club was re-admitted under its old club name.
1951 BSG Motor Oberschöneweide Joined with enterprise sports community BSG Motor Oberschöneweide. The team colours are changed from the traditional blue and white to today's characteristic red and white.
1 February 1955 SC Motor Berlin The first team was joined with the new sports club SC Motor Berlin as a football department.
6 June 1957 TSC Oberschöneweide SC Motor Berlin was merged with several enterprise sports communities (BSG) to form sports club TSC Oberschöneweide.
18 February 1963 TSC Berlin Merged with other sports clubs to form TSC Berlin.
20 January 1966 1. FC Union Berlin The football department of TSC Berlin was separated from the sports club and reorganized into a football club. Founding of 1. FC Union Berlin.

Players

[edit]
See also: List of 1. FC Union Berlin players

Current squad

[edit]
As of 4 September 2024[60]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Denmark DEN Frederik Rønnow
2 DF Germany GER Kevin Vogt
4 DF Portugal POR Diogo Leite
5 DF Suriname SUR Danilho Doekhi
7 FW Belgium BEL Yorbe Vertessen
8 MF Germany GER Rani Khedira (vice-captain)
9 FW Croatia CRO Ivan Prtajin
10 FW Germany GER Kevin Volland
11 MF South Korea KOR Jeong Woo-yeong (on loan from Stuttgart)
12 GK Germany GER Carl Klaus
13 MF Hungary HUN András Schäfer
14 DF Austria AUT Leopold Querfeld
15 DF Germany GER Tom Rothe
16 FW Germany GER Benedict Hollerbach
17 FW United States USA Jordan Pefok
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF Croatia CRO Josip Juranović
19 MF Germany GER Janik Haberer
20 MF Slovakia SVK László Bénes
21 FW Germany GER Tim Skarke
23 FW Serbia SRB Andrej Ilić (on loan from Lille)
24 MF Denmark DEN Robert Skov
26 DF Guadeloupe GLP Jérôme Roussillon
28 DF Austria AUT Christopher Trimmel (captain)
29 MF France FRA Lucas Tousart
45 FW Germany GER David Preu
36 MF Germany GER Aljoscha Kemlein
37 GK Germany GER Alexander Schwolow
39 GK Germany GER Yannic Stein
41 DF Germany GER Oluwaseun Ogbemudia

Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Germany GER Lennart Grill (at Eintracht Braunschweig until 30 June 2025)
— DF Germany GER Robin Gosens (at Fiorentina until 30 June 2025)
— DF Germany GER Paul Jaeckel (at Eintracht Braunschweig until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Czech Republic CZE Alex Král (at Espanyol until 30 June 2025)
— FW Ivory Coast CIV Chris Bedia (at Hull City until 30 June 2025)
— FW Turkey TUR Livan Burcu (at 1. FC Magdeburg until 30 June 2025)

Notable former players

[edit]
Robert Huth left the club's youth system in 2001, joining Chelsea.

All-time top scorer

[edit]

Algeria Karim Benyamina (87)[61]

The number 22 will not be[clarification needed] worn on the back of a Union shirt until someone breaks the all-time Union scoring record of Karim Benyamina, who scored 87 goals in 213 appearances for the club. "This is a great gesture by president Dirk Zingler. That is the reward for six successful years," he said in 2016. Over 14,000 fans turned out to give Benyamina his career send-off alongside another legend,[tone] Torsten Mattuschka, who is often seen[by whom?] as the face of that particular era for Union.[61]

Reserve team

[edit]

The club's reserve team, 1. FC Union Berlin II, most recently played in the tier four Regionalliga Nordost, having won promotion to the league in 2012. Previous to this, it spent two seasons in the NOFV-Oberliga Nord. At the end of the 2014–15 season, the club withdrew the team from competition.[62][63]

Women

[edit]

Union Berlin's women's team was formed in September 1969, becoming the first women's team in Berlin and one of the first in East Germany. The women's team initially competed against Union Berlin's youth teams due to a lack of opponents, playing their first game on 17 January 1970, losing 7–1. In 1971, the team were amalgamated into KWO Berlin's women's team, before KWO merged with Union Berlin in June 1990 following German reunification.[64]

Coaching staff

[edit]
As of 1 July 2024
Role Name
Head coach Denmark Bo Svensson
Assistant coach Germany Babak Keyhanfar
First-team coach Denmark Kristoffer Wichmann
Goalkeeper coach Germany Michael Gspurning
Athletic trainer Germany Martin Kruger

Managerial history

[edit]

European record

[edit]

Overview

[edit]
Competition S Pld W D L GF GA GD
UEFA Champions League 1 6 0 2 4 6 10 −4
UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup 2 14 6 4 4 14 13 +1
UEFA Europa Conference League 1 8 3 2 3 12 9 +3
Intertoto Cup 2 12 5 2 5 15 12 +3
Total 6 40 14 10 16 47 44 +3

Matches

[edit]
Union Berlin score listed first.
Season Competition Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
1967–68 Intertoto Cup Group B7 Denmark KB 0–3 0–1 3rd place
Poland Katowice 3–0 0–1
Czechoslovakia Union Teplice 0–1 1–1
1986–87 Intertoto Cup Group 2 West Germany Bayer Uerdingen 3–2 0–3 1st place
Switzerland Lausanne-Sport 1–0 1–1
Belgium Standard Liège 4–1 2–1
2001–02 UEFA Cup 1R Finland Haka 3–0 1–1 4–1
2R Bulgaria Litex Lovech 0–2 0–0 0–2
2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League PO Finland KuPS 0–0 4–0 4–0
Group E Czech Republic Slavia Prague 1–1 1–3 3rd place
Netherlands Feyenoord 1–2 1–3
Israel Maccabi Haifa 3–0 1–0
2022–23 UEFA Europa League Group D Belgium Union Saint-Gilloise 0–1 1–0 2nd place
Portugal Braga 1–0 0–1
Sweden Malmö FF 1–0 1–0
KRPO Netherlands Ajax 3–1 0–0 3–1
R16 Belgium Union Saint-Gilloise 3–3 0–3 3–6
2023–24 UEFA Champions League Group C Spain Real Madrid 2–3 0–1 4th place
Portugal Braga 2–3 1–1
Italy Napoli 0–1 1–1

UEFA club coefficient ranking

[edit]

As of 18 September 2023
Source:[65]

Rank Team Points
70 Norway Molde 21.500
71 Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv 21.500
72 Germany Union Berlin 21.000
73 Belgium Antwerp 21.000
74 Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach 21.000

Player records

[edit]

Most appearances

[edit]

Competitive, professional matches only. Up to date as of 24 September 2024 [citation needed]

Rank Player Years League Cup Europe Other Total
1 Austria Christopher Trimmel 2014–present 293 23 19 1 336
2 East Germany Lutz Hendel 1968–1984 297 4 6 0 307
3 Germany Tom Persich 1994–2006 285 14 4 0 303
4 Germany Torsten Mattuschka 2005–2014 272 9 0 0 281
5 Germany Michael Parensen 2009–2020 234 13 0 2 249
6 Germany Jan Glinker 2002–2014 232 4 0 0 236
7 Germany Christian Stuff 2006–2014 214 5 0 0 219
8 Germany Ronny Nikol 1997–2003 200 11 4 1 216
9 East Germany Germany Frank Placzek 1987–1997 192 3 0 1 196
10 Algeria Karim Benyamina 2005–2011 189 3 0 0 192

Top goalscorers

[edit]

Competitive, professional matches only. Up to date as of 24 September 2024 [citation needed]

Rank Player Years League Cup Europe Total (Apps) Ratio
1 Poland Jacek Mencel 1990–1994 66 0 0 66 (118) 0.56
2 Algeria Karim Benyamina 2005–2011 62 0 0 62 (192) 0.32
3 Germany Torsten Mattuschka 2005–2014 60 1 0 61 (281) 0.22
4 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sergej Barbarez 1993–1996 48 0 0 48 0(92) 0.52
5 Brazil Daniel Teixeira 2001, 2005–2007 47 0 0 47 0(68) 0.69
6 Germany Sebastian Polter 2014–2015, 2017–2020 44 2 0 46 (104) 0.44
7 North Macedonia Goran Markov 1993–1995 43 1 0 44 0(83) 0.53
Germany Nico Patschinski 1994–1998, 2006–2009 43 1 0 44 (140) 0.31
9 Germany Steffen Menze 1998–2003 38 2 0 40 (164) 0.24
10 Germany Matthias Zimmerling 1991–1994, 1997–1998 37 0 0 37 0(92) 0.40

Club culture

[edit]
Main article: Culture in Berlin

1. FC Union Berlin is recognized as one of Europe's "cult" clubs, based on many unique fan and club initiatives over the last two decades.[66][67][68]

The nicknames of the club are Eiserne (the Iron Ones) or Eisern Union (Iron Union). These nicknames evolved from the earlier sobriquet Schlosserjungs (metalworker boys), a reference to the blue kit the Union played in, as it was reminiscent of the overalls worn by local workers.[69]

In May 2004, the supporters raised enough money to secure the club's license for fourth-division football through a campaign called 'Bleed for Union'.[70] This catchphrase was not meant metaphorically. One element of the campaign was that fans donated blood to Berlin hospitals and then gave the money they received from the blood bank to their club.

After 2010, Union Berlin became increasingly attractive for new Berliners, even internationals, who were drawn to the atmosphere at the club.[71]

In 2023, Rootz Ltd entertainment brand Wildz became a premier sponsor of the club.[72] Wildz is the sister brand to Wheelz, a platform that features The Hoff, an entertainment figure who also enjoys cult status in Germany.

  • Punk legend Nina Hagen
    Punk legend Nina Hagen
  • Weihnachtssingen (Christmas carols singing) in 2010
    Weihnachtssingen (Christmas carols singing) in 2010
  • Union Berlin boat on the river Spree
    Union Berlin boat on the river Spree
  • Union Berlin Bus
    Union Berlin Bus

Rivalries

[edit]
Further information: Berlin derby

During the East German era, 1. FC Union Berlin was known for a rivalry with BFC Dynamo, which was reputedly affiliated with the powerful state security service of East Germany (Stasi). Union, on the other hand, was supported by the regional district management of the ruling SED party and sponsored by local state-owned enterprises.[28][29] The club played some identificatory role in the unofficial opposition against the authorities of the communist system.[73] Between 1979 and 1988, BFC Dynamo won ten consecutive East German league titles, with popular allegations of sporting misconduct helping to fuel the rivalry, and clashes between both sets of fans occurred.[74] BFC Dynamo was seen as the supreme representative of the security agencies, with advantages in the recruitment of players and financial support, as well as the political clout of Erich Mielke.[21] An expression among the supporters of Union Berlin was: "Better to be a loser than a stupid Stasi pig".[75] Supporters of Union cultivated the image of their club as the eternal underdog that was firmly rooted in the working class.[21][76] Union became the most popular club in East Berlin.[77]

It is said that fans of 1. FC Union Berlin often chanted "The wall must go!", with a reference to the Berlin Wall, when the opponents formed a wall during free kicks in 1980s. However, some sources suggest that this is partly a myth and exaggerated.[78][79][nb 2] Supporters of Union saw themselves as stubborn and non-conformist. But this image should not be confused with actual resistance.[81] For some supporters of Union, the dissident reputation is a legend that was created after Die Wende.[82] Honorary president of Union Günter Mielis has said: "Union was not a club of resistance fighters, but we had to fight against a lot of political and economic resistance over and over again. We got strength from our fans".[83] Politics was not in the foreground.[22] Most supporters of Union were just normal football supporters.[84] There were no political groups at Union.[79] A supporter of Union from the East German era has said: "With the best of intentions, Union fans did not contribute to the overthrow of the GDR. No way, we were interested in football. There is the cliché about the club for the enemies of the state, but that wasn't us".[85] Another supporter said: "I think it's a myth that all Unioners were in the opposition. I think it was a basic attitude of the East German football youth in the 1970s and 1980s, that they were critical of the system."[86] Supporters of Union from the East German era have testified that the club was the most important thing, and the identification with Union had primarily to do with Köpenick.[87]

Despite 1. FC Union Berlin and Hertha BSC making up the two biggest clubs in Berlin, a rivalry between the two has been much less pronounced. Sympathies between supporters of the two clubs developed in divided Berlin. The first personal contacts between supporters of the two clubs occurred in the 1970s.[88] Supporters of Hertha visited the Stadion An der Alten Försterei and supporters of Union accompanied the supporters of Hertha when Hertha played in the Eastern Bloc countries, such as the quarter finals in the 1978–79 UEFA Cup against Dukla Prague.[89] Chants and slogans such as "Ha-Ho-He, there are only two teams on the Spree – Union and Hertha BSC" (German: Ha-Ho-He, es gibt nur zwei Mannschaften an der Spree – Union und Hertha BSC) and "Hertha and Union – one nation" (German: Hertha und Union – eine Nation) became popular among the two sets of supporters.[88] The two sets of supporters came together for the first time after the opening of the Berlin wall during the first edition of the indoor tournament "Internationales Berliner Hallenfußballturnier" in the Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle on 18–20 January 1990.[90] Supporters of Union and Hertha now also sang xenophobic and nationalist chants.[91] The teams of Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union Berlin also met in the tournament on 19 January 1990. It was the first ever meeting between the two sides. Hertha BSC won the match 3–2 in front of 4,000 spectators in Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle.[92][90]

On 27 January 1990, 79 days after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Hertha hosted Union Berlin at the Olympiastadion in a friendly in front of 52,000 spectators. Fans of both clubs paid for admission in East and West Germany's respective currencies, and sang songs of German reunification, as Hertha won 2–1. Over twenty years later, on 17 September 2010, the duo faced each other for the first time in a competitive meeting, at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, drawing 1–1 in the 2. Bundesliga.[93] On 2 November 2019, Union Berlin faced Hertha at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, in the first meeting between the clubs in German football's top flight. An 87th minute Sebastian Polter penalty secured a 1–0 win for Union, in a game temporarily suspended by referee Deniz Aytekin, following fireworks thrown by Hertha fans, which landed amongst Union Berlin fans, as well as on the playing surface. 1,100 police officers were on duty for the game, with Hertha fans burning Union Berlin shirts, flags and scarves during the game.[94] Hertha supporters had also been joined by 20–25 supporters of BFC Dynamo in the guest block.[95] Following full time, Union Berlin goalkeeper Rafał Gikiewicz won praise from fans and media alike after ushering Union Berlin ultras from the field of play, following a minor pitch invasion devised to attack Hertha supporters.[94]

Union Berlin also holds rivalries with Hansa Rostock,[96] Dynamo Dresden,[97] and Magdeburg, dating to when the teams competed in the DDR-Oberliga.[98]

More recently, the club has developed a rivalry with RB Leipzig, following the takeover of license and teams from fifth division side SSV Markranstädt financed by Red Bull GmbH and the ascension by Leipzig to the Bundesliga system. In 2011, Union Berlin ran adverts against the investment of the club whilst also cancelling a pre-season friendly with the club. On 21 September 2014, Union Berlin fans staged a silent protest for the first 15 minutes of a 2. Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig, labelling RB Leipzig a "marketing product pushed by financial interests" with "brainwashed consumers in the stands". Union Berlin won the game 2–1.[99] On 18 August 2019, during Union Berlin's first ever Bundesliga game, at home against RB Leipzig, the club's oldest ultras group, the Wuhlesyndikat, successfully called for a 15-minute silent protest at the start of the club's 2019–20 opener.[100]

Songs

[edit]

The official Union Berlin song is "Eisern Union" by German punk singer Nina Hagen[101] The composition was recorded in 1998,[102] with an intro added in 2006 using the opening of Rammstein's song Rammstein.[103] Four versions were issued on a CD single by G.I.B Music and Distribution GmbH.

The famous[according to whom?] supporters' chant 'Eisern Union' (Iron Union) bounces back and forth between the terraces named Waldseite and the Gegengerade, and is followed by mutual acknowledging applause.[104]

Christmas tradition

[edit]

Union Berlin is also well known for its Christmas traditions celebrated in their home stadium.[105] In 2003, the yearly Union Weihnachtssingen started as an unofficial gathering to which just 89 fans showed up. In 2013, 27,500 people attended, including players and supporters of other teams from around Germany and Europe. Fans drink Glühwein (mulled wine), wave candles around, light flares and sing a combination of Christmas carols and football chants.[106]

Mascot

[edit]

Ritter Keule (literally: Cudgel the Knight) is the mascot of Union Berlin.[107] He was first introduced in 2000.[108]

Movies and games

[edit]

Union fürs Leben (Union for life) is a 2014 documentary film that showcases the supporters passion for 1. FC Union Berlin.[109]

Honours

[edit]

Domestic

[edit]
The team celebrates their Berlin Cup victory at the Köpenick town hall in 2007.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Won by SC Union Oberschöneweide.
  2. ^ Won by TSC Berlin.
  3. ^ Won by TSC Oberschöneweide.

Regional

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Won by SC Union Oberschöneweide.[10]
  2. ^ a b VBB-Verbandsliga, organized by football association Verband Brandenburgischer Ballspielvereine (VBB).[10]
  3. ^ a b VBB-Oberliga, organized by football association Verband Brandenburgischer Ballspielvereine (VBB).[111]
  4. ^ a b c d Won by SG Oberschöneweide.[113]

Youth

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Corresponds to U17 level.[citation needed]
  2. ^ Corresponds to U19 level.[citation needed]
  3. ^ Won by TSC Oberschöneweide.[citation needed]

Seasons

[edit]
Main article: List of 1. FC Union Berlin seasons

Further reading

[edit]
  • Böttcher, Jan; Willmann, Frank. (2017). Alles auf Rot: Der 1. FC Union Berlin (in German), Berlin: Blumenbar. ISBN 978-3-351-05046-7.
  • Holden, Kit. (2022). Scheisse! We're Going Up!: The Unexpected Rise of Berlin's Rebel Football Club. London: Duckworth. ISBN 978-0715654439.
  • Koch, Matthias. (2013). "Immer weiter – ganz nach vorn": Die Geschichte des 1. FC Union Berlin (in German). Göttingen: Die Werkstatt. ISBN 978-3730700495.
  • Luther, Jörn; Willmann, Frank. (2001). Und niemals vergessen – Eisern Union! (in German). Berlin: BasisDruck. ISBN 978-3861631262.

See also

[edit]

Explanatory notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Being a "civilian club" did not mean that the club was independent from the state sports political system. A "civilian club" was simply a club that was not affiliated to the sports associations (SV) of the armed organs: SV Dynamo or ASV Vorwärts. The civilian clubs were instead clubs of the DTSB. All clubs in the 1966-67 DDR-Oberliga, except FC Vorwärts Berlin, BFC Dynamo and SG Dynamo Dresden, were civilian clubs.
  2. ^ A former Stasi employee, who was one of two employees responsible for monitoring the supporter scene of Union Berlin, claims that he never heard such chants himself, and that they would not have intervened with such chants anyway. Chants were only noted in their reports and classified among themselves: if they came from someone they had to worry about or if it was just someone venting their frustration.[80] The Stasi also had two employees responsible for monitoring the supporter scene of BFC Dynamo in the same way.[80]

References

[edit]
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  85. ^ Willmann, Frank (2013). Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR (1st ed.). Berlin: nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien. p. 147. ISBN 978-3-00-039788-2. Unionfans haben beim besten Willen keinen Beitrag zum Sturz der DDR geleistet. Auf keinen Fall, wir warn am Fußball interessiert. Es gibt das Klischee vom Club der Staatsfeinde, aber das waren wir nicht.
  86. ^ Willmann, Frank (2013). Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR (1st ed.). Berlin: nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien. p. 92. ISBN 978-3-00-039788-2. Ich halte es für eine Mär, dass nur alle Unioner Opposition waren. Ich glaube, es war eine Grundeinstellung der DDR-Fußballjugend in der 70ern und 80ern, dass sie kritisch zum System stand.
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