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1. FC Union Berlin have signed another attacking player in Benedict Hollerbach. The striker leaves SV Wehen Wiesbaden following their recent promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, and ventures for the first time into the top flight.
Football from the start
Hollerbach was not even five years old in 2006 when he took his first steps on a pitch with a ball at his feet. He gained his first footballing experiences in the G-youth of his hometown club TSV Tutzing on the shores of Lake Starnberg before moving a little further north to TSV 1860 München in the summer of 2010. Four years later his next move followed, but this time it was only a short step to the youth department of FC Bayern München, who had taken notice of the then 13-year-old.
He progressed up the ladder, year on year, from the U16s to the U19s, until the adaptable attacking player had passed through all the stages of the FCB youth team, crowning his achievements in the U17s with, among other things, winning the German B Juniors Championship in the 2016/17 season.
The 22-year-old has also gained international experience, both at club level and with Germany. Hollerbach took part in the UEFA Youth League with Bayern’s U19s during the 2018/19 season, and played two friendly matches with the national U18s.
After a brief stint in Stuttgart, comprising 23 appearances for VfB’s U19s and second team, he made the move to professional football in September 2020.
Leading the line for promotion
On arrival at the 3. Liga side SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Hollerbach became an important part of the first team right from the start, increasing this playing minutes season after season, culminating with the club’s superb 2022/23. He was by now indispensable for head coach Markus Kauczinski’s team and, with 14 goals and five assists, played a major part in their promotion to the 2. Liga. Indeed, he almost single-handedly decided the promotion play-off against Arminia Bielefeld at the beginning of June with three goals.
But now the time is right for him to hit the north, to Köpenick. To 1. FC Union Berlin.
Three facts about Benedict:
- Benedict’s birthplace Starnberg is also the home of former beach volleyball player Sara Goller and former Formula 1 driver Adrian Sutil.
- He is the first player from TSV Tutzing to make the leap into professional football.
- When Benedict hits the goal, his team usually wins. Out of 41 games in which he scored a total of 59 goals, only four have been lost.
Views on the transfer
“By signing for Union, the dream of the Bundesliga is coming true for me,” said a happy Hollerbach on his arrival in Köpenick. “That was always my goal and now I want to give everything to continue my development successfully and put myself at the service of the team.”
“Everyone is aware of the big jump from the third division to here. Nevertheless, we are convinced that Benedict, with his one-on-one skills, speed and determination, fits well into our system of play and can bring us a lot of joy in the future,” said Oliver Ruhnert, Union’s managing director of professional men’s football on the signing.
