1. FC Union Berlin are starting the new season’s preparations with a new head coach. From 1. July, Bo Svensson will take charge of the sporting fortunes of the men’s first team.
The 44-year-old Dane can look back on a successful professional career as a player. He played a total of 291 games for FC København, Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FSV Mainz 05 as well as making three appearances for the Danish national team.
After retiring as a player in the summer of 2015, he began his coaching career at Mainz 05, initially working as an assistant coach on Martin Schmidt’s staff before going on to coach various youth teams.
After a successful season with the U19s, Svensson moved to FC Liefering in the Austrian 2nd division in the summer of 2019, but in January 2021 he returned to the Rhineland-Palatinate state capital to take over the club he was long associated with, Mainz 05, who were second bottom of the table with six points after 14 games. This was followed by the best second half of a season in Mainz’s Bundesliga history, eventually finishing 12th in the table with 39 points. Under Svensson’s management, Mainz 05 finished the next two seasons in 8th and 9th place.
The collaboration finally came to an end in November 2023, when Svensson announced his resignation as Mainz head coach.
“In close consultation with Oliver Ruhnert and Horst Heldt, we decided on a new sporting start in the summer and are convinced that Bo Svensson is a coach who is a good fit to our club,” said Dirk Zingler, President of 1. FC Union Berlin. “I’m looking forward to working with him and I’m sure that together with the team he can ensure that we play a good role in the Bundesliga.”
“I’ve been watching Union for a long time and I’m sure I’ll find good conditions here for successful work,” said Svensson on his new appointment. “The unity that Union radiate, and the togetherness between the team, fans, staff and club management, is a very important factor. I’m looking forward to the road ahead of us and will do everything I can to ensure that we have a successful season.”