1. FC Union Berlin

“Leaving Union is very difficult for me. I found my footballing home here at the age of eleven and was part of this club for seven years. I am grateful to those responsible for the trust they have placed in me and wish 1. FC Union Berlin all the best for the coming season. At KAS Eupen, I now have the opportunity to further show myself with regular playing time,” added Moser.

An Union player took the positions from two to four in the same category. Captain Christopher Trimmel, striker Taiwo Awoniyi and defender Robin Knoche make up Berlin’s top four footballers.

“We were quickly sure: Comedy Central and Union are not just a short affair, but something for a longer period. The chemistry between us and this great club fits. We have had an incredibly successful season behind us, first and foremost in the DFB Pokal, and now we would like to accompany the club on its further adventure journey through the Bundesliga, and – quite seriously – with a lot of humour,” said Peter Forner, Brand Director GSA at Comedy Central.

Since the end of January this year, Michel Kuper has taken on the role of rehab coach for the Eisernen’s Bundesliga team. However, his involvement with Union goes back much further: in 2017, Kuper started as a physiotherapist with the Eisernen youth team and took over the position of rehab coach at the NLZ just under a year later. After five years at Union, Kuper is moving back to his home state of Lower Saxony.

All of the sessions on Monday and Tuesday took place at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei training pitches. The squad was divided into two groups with one at the Charite clinic for tests and the other going through their paces with athletic coach Martin Krüger. Wednesday, however, was the first time the group got together.

“Union and Berlin have become my home. My time here has certainly been marked by highs and lows, with the good moments far outweighing them. Saying goodbye on the last matchday was very difficult for me, so it’s all the nicer to be back here and to continue to be part of the team,” said Jakob Busk after his contract extension.

In 65 games for Union, Awoniyi netted 25 times and contributed nine assists to help the club succeed in the Bundesliga.

Khedira ill, Seguin came later

1. FC Union Berlin’s long-standing partner, IFA, will return this year to host the world’s largest trade fair for consumer electronics between September 2-6, 2022 at Messe Berlin. For the last two years, the popular event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We are proud to be able to present this year’s opposition which is steeped in tradition and returns to the top division. It will be a high-quality encounter and emotionally will touch us even more. Like all Union fans, even we at IFA have taken Taiwo to our hearts. We are very pleased that we all now have the opportunity to say goodbye,” said IFA Director Jens Heithecker.

The first opponent, Viktoria, suffered relegation in May from Germany’s third division to the Regionalliga Nordost. The light blues started well in the nationwide division, achieving a promotion position after 10 games. But the wheels came off with a long run of defeats and the exit of successful head coach Benedetto Muzzicatto. Despite wins at home to Magdeburg, away to Borussia Dortmund II and at home to Saarbrücken, Viktoria weren’t able to preserve their 3.Liga status. It’s a fresh charge at the Regionalliga under Farat Toku and they will face stiff competition alongside Carl Zeiss Jena, Energie Cottbus, Chemnitzer FC and Hertha II. Viktoria’s lost 1-2 to Magdeburg in a bounce game on Saturday, but their campaign will start competitively with an exciting first round DFB Pokal tie against Bundesliga outfit VfL Bochum.