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Urs Fischer has been in charge at Union Berlin since 2018.
Christian Finkbeinerfootball boss
Urs Fischer has been in charge at Union Berlin since the summer of 2018 and set off on an unprecedented high with the cult club from the east of the city: promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time, relegation, qualification for the Conference League, qualification for the Europa League and in the autumn they were even the top league table in the Bundesliga.
Urs Fischer, Union has been riding a wave of success since you arrived in Berlin. Do you sometimes pinch yourself?
Don’t pinch, no. Of course, what we have achieved is extraordinary. But one cannot rest. What has been is of no use to you. What matters is what comes.
After every season you think you’ve reached your peak, but Union is still getting better?
We have the most successful club year behind us, now it is time to confirm this. That’s a huge challenge. So far it has only been uphill. But there can also be a phase when things go worse. But we will do everything we can to ensure that it doesn’t come to that.
“I miss the family sometimes.”Urs Fischer on the distance between Berlin and Zurich
What is the reason it fits so well at Union?
In the end, it’s just that no one takes themselves too seriously. Everyone gives their best for the whole, for the common. It is the image of how we are perceived from the outside. We act as a unit and everyone submits to the whole. The feeling of togetherness is not only talked about, it is also lived.
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Fischer has long been underestimated. The successful collaboration ended early with both his parent club FC Zürich and FC Basel. FC Thun experienced its best time in the Fischer era after the Champions League adventure. He led the iron from Berlin to unimagined heights. Fischer and Union fit like a glove. “I like it here.” With his direct manner, Fischer is well received in the German capital. “In Germany, you can speak your mind openly without the world collapsing.” He extended his contract in Berlin again last fall.
You have been living in Berlin for four and a half years, separated from your family, who have stayed in Zurich. Isn’t there homesickness?
Yes, I do miss my family to some extent, even though I go to Zurich from time to time or they come to Berlin. This is an issue in between, since I’m a family man. But we’ve done very well so far.
How did you develop as a person in Berlin?
The two years at FC Basel have strengthened me so much that I can deal with certain things and also endure a lot – and that I have found my way around here. The 1st Bundesliga is a different size. Football is a very big topic in Germany, a lot is written, a lot is talked about, there are many opinions, very many opinions (laughs). I also learn something new every day in training theory and in dealing with the players and the staff. You don’t change in nature, but in behavior. What is decisive is that in the end I am always myself, that I remain authentic.
Urs Fischer personally
Urs Fischer was born on February 20, 1966 in Zurich. He is married and father of two daughters. During his career, Fischer played for FCZ and St. Gallen, and he won the Swiss Cup with Zurich in 2000. He worked as a coach at FCZ, Thun and Basel, winning two championship titles and one cup with FCB. He has been the coach of Union Berlin since 2018.
Urs Fischer was born on February 20, 1966 in Zurich. He is married and father of two daughters. During his career, Fischer played for FCZ and St. Gallen, and he won the Swiss Cup with Zurich in 2000. He worked as a coach at FCZ, Thun and Basel, winning two championship titles and one cup with FCB. He has been the coach of Union Berlin since 2018.
You can find out how they and the club tick in the book “We will live forever” by Christoph Biermann, who followed Union’s first Bundesliga season up close. What triggered the book in you?
The book describes very well who we are. The authenticity comes across, that’s the important thing. A question that we talked about for a long time before the project was whether people’s behavior changes when someone is very close to the team and writes about it. Before that we had respect. I think it’s outstanding that we haven’t changed, the whole staff, the players and the club have remained themselves.
Despite his success, Fischer hasn’t changed either: down-to-earth, direct and free from airs and graces. The start of the second half of the season after the long World Cup break is successful, and the team wins 3-1 against Hoffenheim after falling behind. The Alte Försterei is once again a madhouse. In the 2024/25 season, this is to be rebuilt and the spectator capacity increased from 22,000 to 37,700. “A fantastic project,” says Fischer. However, this is not relevant to his day-to-day work.
Their success is also attracting interest from top clubs that have more potential than Union Berlin. Have you never thought about a change?
no Since I’ve been in Berlin, I’ve never gotten into brooding. I want to deliver the best possible work in the here and now. That’s how I rode well – and I won’t change because of the success.
“In every press conference I have to answer questions about the Champions League.”Urs Fischer on the ongoing Union success
Union has to give up players again and again, most recently Julian Ryerson, who switched to BVB. Doesn’t this cause frustration?
There is always a laughing and a crying eye. I’m happy for the player that he has made such a development and can switch to an absolute top club. On the other hand, it weakens you because you lose a good man. But you have to accept it because even if we sign a player, we take them away from somewhere. It’s a cycle and part of the football business.
This would not be the case at a top club…
It’s nice when we have such interesting players for other clubs, that speaks for our work and that we’re doing a lot of things right. There is hardly a team in the world that does not lose a player. I saw the documentary about Luis Figo who joined Real Madrid from Barcelona. Transfers are happening even among the very big clubs.
Full Bundesliga action at a glance
In Switzerland, Bundesliga fans are always on the ball thanks to exclusive highlight videos from SPORT1.
In addition to the best moments of all games and all goals in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, there is also a separate column after each match day in which the Swiss Bundesliga legionnaires are examined very closely.
All summaries are available after each round, starting at midnight on Monday.
Thanks to Blick and SPORT1, Swiss Bundesliga fans have reason to celebrate.
imago images / Matthias Koch
In Switzerland, Bundesliga fans are always on the ball thanks to exclusive highlight videos from SPORT1.
In addition to the best moments of all games and all goals in the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga, there is also a separate column after each match day in which the Swiss Bundesliga legionnaires are examined very closely.
All summaries are available after each round, starting at midnight on Monday.
Gikiewicz, Andrich, Kruse, Prömel, Awoniyi, many left the Union during Fischer’s tenure. But even important departures are not a problem for Union. Union is getting better and better. The team has established itself in the league despite the triple burden in the chasing group of Bayern Munich and is also in the Europa League and the DFB Cup. But the Bundesliga has priority.
Union led the table for weeks, the hype rose immeasurably. Were you glad when you were no longer first?
No, who doesn’t want to be first? But the goal is and remains 40 points and staying up. But when you try to drill down to get a different statement from the coach, it becomes tedious over time. But I persevered (laughs).
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How do you manage to keep the players and the environment down to earth?
In every press conference I have to answer questions about the Champions League. And every time I say the goal is 40 points. Because that’s already a very ambitious goal for a club like Union Berlin in a league where you have to push yourself to the limit in every game in order to score. But I don’t have to say this to the players every day because they know it.
After Christian Streich, you are the Bundesliga coach who has been in office the longest. What does that mean to you?
It fills me with pride to have been with a club for four and a half years, because the turnover among coaches worldwide is very high these days. In Switzerland, the average term of office is said to be 14 months, so such a long cooperation is something very positive.
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