For the Bundesliga team of 1. FC Union Berlin, the coming days will mark the end of a year that will go down long in the memory for everyone involved.
Serial winners and history makers
After the longest winter break in the history of the league, Union started the new calendar year with an impressive run. Six successes in a row – including the Berlin derby – propelled the club from fifth to second in the table, while the club also survived the DFB Pokal last 16 tie VfL Wolfsburg on a turbulent, and stormy transfer deadline day. As Danilho Doekhi rose to become the most prolific centre-back in the top leagues with three goals in January, his team-mates seemed to be briefly lacking their previous attacking power in February.
However, the UEFA Europa League first knock-out round is a two-legged affair and following a superb 0-0 draw in the first leg in Amsterdam, a furious 3-1 win back in Berlin secured entry to the last 16.
Reunions and pride
A first defeat of the year in Munich against the German record champions was followed by four further games without a win in March, including the two goalless draws against Köln and Wolfsburg, but these were merely setting the scene for a very special rematch. As in the group stage, Union met their Belgian namesakes, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, but, following a wild 3-3 draw at home they were finally defeated, and with it bid farewell to their European adventure, as well as the wonderful trial of hosting European matches at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei for the time being.
Renewed highs but an exit of the cup
The team ended March with their first home win in the league since the beginning of February, and because the 2-0 win against Frankfurt Eintracht was so good, it was followed by a 3-0 win against VfB Stuttgart two weeks later. Before Easter, however, Eintracht took their revenge when they knocked Union out of the DFB Pokal in the quarter finals. However, as the club’s original target of 40 points had now already been reached, focus turned entirely on to the Bundesliga and the big goal of “European football for the third time”.
The suspense leads to a last-game decider
Right up until the very end of the season, the Union supporters were sent on a real rollercoaster ride; no two games in a row ended with the same result. However, two draws against Bochum and Leverkusen continued the club’s impressive unbeaten run at home and the 4-2 win against SC Freiburg opened the door to the top four wide open. It took Rani Khedira to settle things on the final day of the season with the winner in a 1-0 win against Werder Bremen, sending the team, stadium and city into a state of complete delirium. The team had taken on the highs of previous years, and added to them, remaining undefeated at home, finishing fourth in the final standings and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
Training and transfers, the summer begins anew
Preparations for the new season began in the heat of Bad Saarow, before travelling further afar for an even hotter away test for a pre-season friendly in Hungary. The fans then had the treat of a home match against Christophers Trimmel’s former team Rapid Vienna before a rainy training camp in the Wildkogel suburb of Bramberg. The summer preparations were rounded off with a real football festival in front of 20,000 Union fans at the Alte Försterei, a 4-1 win against Serie A’s Atalanta. Meanwhile, the squad was being reorganised as new players were being brought on board. In tried-and-tested fashion, these were young, promising talents and experienced players who were able to make their mark.
A strong start leads to the top of the table
The team got off to a convincing, high-scoring start to the 2023/24 season under head coach Urs Fischer. The commanding 4-0 win over FC-Astoria Walldorf in the first round of the Cup was followed by two further victories as both First Mainz and then Darmstadt were each defeated 4-1. After two matches Union were in first place, having scored six of their eight goals through headers. Striker Kevin Behrens was the first player since Union joined the Bundesliga to score four goals in two, none of which being penalties.
Group stage excitement, but a slump in the league
An irritating 3-0 defeat against RasenBallsport Leipzig ended the impressive 24 match unbeaten run at the Alte Försterei, but their euphoria still knew no bounds. After all, something historic had happened again three days earlier in Monaco. Union were in the pot for the UEFA Champions League group-stage draw. It brought trips to play Napoli and Real Madrid as well as SC Braga, a club Union already knew well from the Europa League.
Scoring problems and the worst of luck part one
The team lost their first ever Champions League match by the narrowest of margins – as if arranged by the footballing gods themselves, it was at the home of the 14 time European Champions in Madrid. The score remained 0-0 until the last minute of stoppage time before Jude Bellingham’s goal ended any hopes of a point. In their second match of the tournament, they also lost in what was effectively a last-second defeat. At Berlin’s Olympiastadion, Union’s temporary European home, SC Braga scored too at the final whistle. Union’s two goals that night were at least a glimmer of hope, having only scored once in the five previous games.
Scoring problems and the worst of luck part two
Meanwhile, the tally of games Union had now lost in a row stood at six, having been beaten by Dortmund, Stuttgart, Napoli, Bremen, Stuttgart again in the cup and then Frankfurt. The number of goals scored also remained almost static, with only the 4-2 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund showing any sign of the much-missed threat in front of goal.
Changes on and off the pitch
It was 8 November 2023, 34 years and one day after the fall of the wall, when a scoreboard finally showed a draw at the end of an Union match. With a lot of fight and passion, the team led by captain Christopher Trimmel had held for a 1-1 draw in Naples and thus at least ended the losing streak. But a 4-0 setback at league leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen was followed by the news nobody in the Union universe wanted to hear, head coach Urs Fischer and assistant coach Markus Hoffmann were to leave the club after five and a half years. The U-19’s coaching duo of Marco Grote and Marie-Louise Eta took over on an interim basis, also picking up a vital point in the league against Augsburg. It was the first since the 4-1 win in Darmstadt at the end of August.
New faces, victorious voices
Although only at the second attempt, under the direction of new head coach Nenad Bjelica, Union finally achieved their first success in 16 games with a 3-1 home win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Croatian had also led the team to a point four days earlier in his debut on the bench against Braga, keeping their hopes of third place in the Champions League group alive.
Hope and consolidation
Union finally welcomed the group winners Real Madrid on the last matchday of the Champions League group stage – it was, for the home side at least, like a cup final – but the game between Napoli and Braga was also decisive that evening, with Union needing a wín for the Italian hosts. Despite the difficult first half of the season, Union were playing for their (European) survival and came so close to bringing down the Spanish giants. Maybe in the end, it was a mixture of a lack of experience and a bit of bad luck that cost them third place in the final standings, but regardless, Union could hold their heads high. It had been a unique experience for everyone in and around the club. This wild year ended a few days before Christmas, as Union celebrated one last football festival in the home league fixture against 1. FC Köln, celebrating a 2-0 victory and going into the well-earned end-of-year break with a renewed positive feeling.