Michael Parensen, long-time player and most recently Technical Director of men’s professional football, and 1. FC Union Berlin are to go their separate ways.
The then 22-year-old defensive utility player joined the club in January 2009, quickly playing his way into both the team and the hearts of many Union fans with his determination and commitment on the pitch. That season he was part of an Union side that were able to celebrate a long-awaited return to the 2. Bundesliga. But though he was often plagued by injuries in the following years, Parensen always fought his way back. As the longest-serving Union professional at the time, another promotion dream came true for Micha and his club ten years later when, on 27.05.2019, 1. FC Union Berlin celebrated their first ever promotion into the Bundesliga. There, the midfielder made ten appearances and scored one goal to keep the club in the league before finally ending his playing career after 249 appearances and eight goals for Union.
The summer of 2020 marked the start of a new chapter in the newly qualified ex-professional’s life, in which he made an immediate career transition at Union. As a trainee, Parensen went through numerous departments at the club, returning to the football department a year later. From then on, he supported Oliver Ruhnert, the director of men’s professional football, in his duties. After successfully completing the management course at the DFB, for which he was registered by Union, he was appointed Technical Director of the men’s professional division in the summer of 2022, where he has been responsible for technical administration ever since. Now, after a total of 15 years together, the work between Union and Michael Parensen is now coming to an end.
“Michael quickly familiarized himself with his new area of responsibility after his time as a player. He has provided new impetus in recent years, contributed interesting ideas and certainly learned a lot himself,” said Ruhnert on the end of their time together. “If he continues this, he will continue along his path in football. I would like to thank him for the good cooperation.”
Meanwhile, Union president, Dirk Zingler had this to say about Parensen. “Micha has written an extraordinary story with us, which doesn’t happen very often in today’s football world. We can all be proud of what we have achieved together during this time. It’s not unusual that we don’t have all the same ideas about how to continue on our path at this point in time. But it is important to recognize and respect that. We wish Micha all the best both privately and professionally – he will always be very welcome at the Alte Försterei.”