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After promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019, Fischer made it onto the European stage with the Irons.
Sebastian RiederEditor Sports
Take a deep breath – pause and enjoy. “Just switch off and recharge your batteries,” says Urs Fischer – finally with his family. The break during the World Cup was a blessing for him – plus the holidays at home. The 56-year-old from Zurich had previously stayed away from home for seven weeks. Iron for Union Berlin.
Driven by the current of the Bundesliga. Electrified by the premiere in the Europa League. Loaded from the knockout games in the DFB Cup. “An intense time that strained your strength.” He only found the rare moments of peace in his apartment not far from the stadium – relaxing on the small balcony on the Spree.
He painfully had to give up fly fishing in the river, his beloved hobby. On the other hand, he fished the trophy as Swiss coach of the year. “A great honor and a great surprise,” says Fischer with the usual modesty. Despite all the euphoria, this down-to-earth attitude earned him a lot of respect.
Fischer transfers the diligence to the players
He has also kept his authentic style abroad. Fischer is still the original Urs. His High German Helvetic. Unpolished, honest and direct. Sometimes frowned upon in Switzerland – a virtue in Germany. And in Berlin, where the tone is much rougher and dealings are even more direct, the meticulous worker is even considered to be extremely friendly.
Especially in the rustic region around the stadium at the old forester. Where the meticulous worker is often the first to arrive early in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. “Fischer exemplifies diligence with every fibre,” confirms Dirk Zingler. The president of 1. FC Union Berlin describes Fischer’s zeal as a kind of silent commitment to those around him. “The players feel that and torture themselves on the pitch until the last second.”
Push the limit in every game
Loyalty in the form of performance – uncompromising. “Fischer is a coach who has clear principles, but doesn’t overwhelm the players,” says Zingler. The tactical corset is tight, but there is still enough air to breathe – not only in a figurative sense. With a mileage of 117.28 kilometers per game, Union Berlin currently has the highest average in the league.
Fischer believes it is essential for success: “We have to push our limits in every game.” Fight and scratch until the end. “That’s typical for us,” says Zingler. “Never give up. Always believe in yourself.” An idea that has shaped the club for many generations. “And Fischer transports to the players what we all live here in the club.”
This is recorded on a large banner in the stadium above the two goals. “And never forget: Iron Union” It was created in the 1920s when the amateurs of the workers’ association earned their daily bread in the metal industry in the nearby district of Oberschöneweide. “Iron Union” – today a battle cry that also magnetized Fischer when he signed up in 2018.
Without saying a word about football
The very first encounter between Fischer and the President is extremely attractive. “It was a very long and good conversation about common values,” Zingler recalls. “We talked about human issues, like family. About how we see the world. After that I was sure that we had found our coach.”
The spark also goes over immediately with Fischer. And that without losing a word about football. “That wasn’t necessary at all,” says Zingler mischievously. “Fischer was already on our list. We looked closely at his path in Switzerland and knew that he was a successful football teacher.”
In his very first season, Fischer led the Irons into the Bundesliga and was well cared for in Berlin. After the first promotion in the history of the club, he confidently manages to stay up. Already in the second Bundesliga season, the qualification for international business succeeds. First the Conference League, a year later the Europa League. And it gets even better.
This season, the kickers of the cult club climb to the top and face the sun for six weeks at Ligakroesus Bayern Munich. The meteoric rise of the former GDR club made Fischer the king of Köpenick in Germany. An appreciation that he rarely felt as a coach in Switzerland.
Disdained at FC Basel despite success
Fischer experienced an emotional roller coaster when he was promoted from youth coach to head coach at FCZ in 2010 and became runner-up a year later – one point behind FC Basel. After selling out various top performers, Fischer was unable to confirm his success in 2012 and was fired.
After the shock, he rehabilitated in the Bernese Oberland and let the small FC Thun play big. When FC Basel poached him in 2015, the Ultras welcomed him with the words: “Urs Fischer – never one of us.” Fischer wins the championship twice and the cup once within two years.
Dirk Zingler – A life for Union Berlin
Dirk Zingler (58) is a true Berliner and has been President of the Iron Union for over 18 years. The 58-year-old logistics entrepreneur saved the former GDR club from financial collapse and led the regional league team to the top. The expansion of the stadium to 22,000 seats and the engagement of Urs Fischer in 2018 was one of the reasons for the promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. 1. FC Union Berlin has been playing in the Europa League since this season. In the coming years, the capacity of the arena at the Alte Försterei is to be increased to 36,000 spectators.
Dirk Zingler (58) is a true Berliner and has been President of the Iron Union for over 18 years. The 58-year-old logistics entrepreneur saved the former GDR club from financial collapse and led the regional league team to the top. The expansion of the stadium to 22,000 seats and the engagement of Urs Fischer in 2018 was one of the reasons for the promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time. 1. FC Union Berlin has been playing in the Europa League since this season. In the coming years, the capacity of the arena at the Alte Försterei is to be increased to 36,000 spectators.
A change of leadership at FCB will be fatal for Fischer. He has to leave the Bebbi because of missing identification. On the last day of the game, the Muttenzer curve surprises with a new banner: “Urs – one of us.”
Later, when there was also turbulence in the coaching position at Union, the Fischer file quickly ended up on the President’s desk. In Berlin, people find out about the unusual departure from FCB and can only shake their heads in the end. It must be crazy people in Basel who put a coach like that in front of the door.
It can only be right for Zingler: “We are very happy that we have him here with us today.”
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