1. FC Union Berlin: Life in the Bundesliga
Life in the Bundesliga has been fruitful for 1. FC Union Berlin. Since their miraculous promotion in 2019, they have enjoyed a steady linear rise up to heights they could have only dreamed of. The aim was simple when Urs FIschers team arrived at the top flight: forty points and survival.
Union came to the Bundesliga with the majority of the players that got them there. The only significant departures were centre-back Marvin Friedrich’s move to FC Augsburg and midfielder Marcel Hartel joining Arminia Bielefeld.
Preparing for the step up to the top flight, Die Eisernen (The Iron Ones) wanted to add experience to their squad. They did so in the form of Christian Gentner. The midfielder had over 375 Bundesliga appearances under his belt already and was the principal addition in the middle of the park. Neven Subotic’s arrival provided this at the back. The Serbian won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2012 and hoped for one last hurrah in Germany.
RB Leipzig were the visitors for the first-ever Bundesliga game at the Stadion An Der Alten Försterei. Leipzig would be a poignant opponent, given the disdain the rest of the league has for Red Bull’s loophole through the 50+1 rule. They represented the direct antithesis of Union Berlin. It was an emotional day in Kōpenick. Unioners brought posters of deceased loved ones to share the club’s most cherished day with them.
Alongside the emotional tribute, the Union fans staged a silent protest against their opponents. The home end didn’t make a sound for the opening fifteen minutes of the match. An action that mirrored scenes when the sides met in the DFB-Pokal in 2014 (on that occasion, Union fans arrived dressed for a funeral). Ironically, Leipzig took the lead 57 seconds after the home fans had begun chanting. The game ended 0-4 to Leipzig. Die Eisernen still celebrated their first day in the Bundesliga despite the result.
Union Berlin’s first Bundesliga goal came courtesy of Sebastian Andersson. The striker scored ten minutes from time to earn a 1-1 draw at Augsburg on Matchday Two.
The first Bundesliga victory would become even more historic.
Borussia Dortmund arrived at the Alte Försterei for Matchday Three, and few would have predicted the following events. A brace from Marius Bülter and a late goal from Andersson fulfilled Die Eisernen’s wildest dreams as Union claimed a 3-1 victory over the Bundesliga giants.
It was Dortmund’s first defeat in five months, adding to the significance of Union’s first Bundesliga win. Understandably, their fans were in raptures.
Union experienced a mixture of results during the rest of the Hinrunde (pre-winter-break). A run of five straight defeats followed the win over Dortmund, leaving them near the drop in mid-October. They turned their horrendous form around in November with five wins in seven games. This run included a famous 1-0 win over Hertha BSC in the first-ever Bundesliga Berlin derby. Die Eisernen claimed the victory thanks to an 87th-minute penalty from Sebastian Poulter.
By the winter break, Union Berlin were comfortably in mid-table, five places and five points clear of Fortuna Dusseldorf in the relegation zone. Positivity was rife at the annual Weihnachtssingen (Union’s Christmas carol concert).
Wins against FC Augsburg, Werder Bremen, and Eintracht Frankfurt ensured midtable security for Die Eisernen. Now eight points clear of relegation with 14 games to play, Bundesliga survival was in their hands.
Then the pandemic happened. When Bundesliga football returned in May 2020, all clubs had to compete without their fans providing their valuable atmosphere. It was a significant change for Union Berlin, whose crowd plays a substantial part in all their games.
However, its impact would be minimal, as three wins and two draws in the final nine games were enough for Die Eisernen to secure Bundesliga status.
Sebastian, Andersson and Poulter departed Berlin ahead of the 2020/21 season. Their goal contributions needed replacing, and Union found the perfect substitute.
Famous Bundesliga goalscorer Max Kruse agreed to join the club on a free transfer. The German striker had scored 200+ goals in the German top flight during his career, certainly adding valuable experience.
With the pandemic still peaking, the new season would continue behind closed doors. The impact was felt on the opening day at the Alte Försterei as Union lost 3-1 to FC Augsburg.
Despite the defeat, Die Eisernen went on an incredible run and succumbed to only one further defeat in 12 Bundesliga games. The streak included victories against top sides, including Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and 1899 Hoffenheim. All of whom were chasing the European spots. Union also held champions Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw at home. This result cemented their place as a formidable top-flight team. Union went into Christmas positioned in the dizzying heights of sixth in the Bundesliga. Staying there would provide European qualification.
Union Berlin had played European football once before. After reaching the final of the DFB-Pokal in 2001, they qualified for the preliminary rounds of the UEFA Cup. However, they only reached the second round, losing to Bulgarian side Litex Lovech.
An injury to Kruse left Union struggling for goals during the Rechnung (post-winter-break). Alongside the lack of firepower came poor results. Die Eisernen were already clear of relegation worries, but inconsistent form left them on the cusp of missing out on their European dream. A win against guaranteed runners-up RB Leipzig was required on the final day to ensure they beat Borussia Monchengladbach to 7th spot and Europe.
The game played out in true Union Berlin style. A smattering of fans were allowed to attend as the pandemic restrictions slowly loosened. Unable to break the deadlock in the first half, they went behind thanks to a strike from Justin Kluivert. The supporters at the Alte Försterei are never ones to give up hope, and those dreams heightened when Marvin Friedrich got them on level terms with 25 minutes to play. With the seconds ticking down and Monchengladbach already securing a 4-2 win, Union needed a late miracle. They found one. Kruse had returned from injury a few weeks before and arrived at the back post in the 92nd minute to head home Sheraldo Becker’s cross. European dreams became a reality as Union Berlin qualified for the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League.
Innovative summer business continued to be the moniker for Union Berlin going into 2021/22. Striker Taiwo Awoniyi signed on a permanent deal from Liverpool, having spent a successful stint on loan in Köpernick the season before. Fredrik Rønnow joined from Eintracht Frankfurt, offering valuable Bundesliga experience between the sticks.
Eight players arrived on free transfers to bolster the squad for European competition. Including two players who became Union fan favourites, Rami Khedira and Kevin Behrens.
The Conference League campaign was disappointing for Union Berlin. Drawn against Feyenoord, Slavia Prague, and Maccabi Haifa, advancing to the knockout stage was challenging. Die Eisernen finished third in their group with just two wins against Maccabi. One point separated them from the next round as Feyenoord and Slavia finished higher.
Domestically, however, Union’s story was different. With fans allowed back into Bundesliga stadiums, the Alte Försterei reformed to the fortress it had once been.
Union Berlin would only lose two games at home all season in 2021/22, suffering defeat only at the hands of the top two, Bayern and Dortmund. They also achieved a historic double over Hertha in the Berlin derby, winning 2-0 at home and a monumental 4-1 win away in the Olympiastadion.
Heading into the closing games of the season, Die Eisernen were on course to secure their second European qualification in a row. The only question was which competition? A successful run-in answered that with authority. Six wins in their final seven games pushed Union to break their highest Bundesliga finish, ending the season in fifth place, a Europa League spot. They did finish only one point off fourth, and Champions League qualification, but that gap had become insurmountable a while back.
For Union Berlin to achieve back-to-back European qualifications went against every pundit’s preseason predictions for the still relatively small club. Somehow, they still hadn’t reached their pinnacle.
The 2022/23 season is the campaign where Union Berlin announced itself to the world. A Europa League run that involved taking down some giants, a league campaign that saw them top the Bundesliga until as late as February, and most historically, Champions League qualification.
Early form boosted Union to the top of the Bundesliga, ahead of struggling Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. A 3-1 win in the Berlin derby on the opening day, a 2-1 victory over high-flying RB Leipzig, a 2-0 win over Dortmund, and a last-minute winner against Borussia Mönchengladbach all before the end of October put the rest of Germany on notice.
According to all the stats, Die Eisernen were achieving well above expectation. By the turn of November, Union had scored 19 goals from just 11 xG, a truly staggering statistic.
Floundering form towards the end of the Hinderunde slightly dampened the early fantasies of the unthinkable. At the 2022 World Cup pause, Union Berlin had dropped to fifth. But the break did nothing but rejuvenate Die Eisernen. Upon the return of the Bundesliga, they went on a five-game winning streak, their best in the top flight, taking them back to the summit in February. This run included completing another derby double over struggling city rivals Hertha and, more impressively, a double over Leipzig.
Despite the fantastic run, its unsustainability eventually caught up. A recharged Bayern, backed by new manager Thomas Tuchel, demolished Union 3-0 at the Allianz, bringing the Berliners back to earth.
The final games of the season were tense. Bayern, Dortmund, and Leipzig pulled away at the top, and it was down to Union and Freiburg to battle it out for the final Champions League spot.
The two met with three games to go in the Bundesliga. Pundits touted the matchup as the European decider, as the winner would get a vital boost over the loser. Neither club had experienced Champions League football, setting up an intriguing tie. The fans from Köpenick ended the day the happier of the two, as Union secured a dominant 4-2 victory, which should have been the race over. But in typical Union fashion, it wasn’t.
In their penultimate match, Union travelled to Hoffenheim and left with nothing, suffering a 4-2 defeat in a bonkers game. Freiburg won their game at home to Wolfsburg, drawing them level on points in 4thm, leaving everything down to the final day.
A win at home against Werder Bremen was all Die Eisernen needed to achieve their Champions League dream. Anything less, and all eyes would be on Freiburg in Cologne to see if they could leapfrog them. First blood went to Freiburg as they took the lead on the stroke of halftime, while Union went into the break at 0-0. As the minutes ticked, you wouldn’t blame the crowd in Köpenick for getting restless, but they stayed calm and kept their now famous atmosphere at full tilt. Union rewarded their fans’ patience in the 81st minute as unlikely hero Rani Khedira put them in front. Delirium ensued as news filtered that Freiburg were now behind and Champions League football was theirs. The celebrations went long into the night in East Berlin.
Union Berlin’s journey from the 2. Bundesliga to the Champions League in five seasons is nothing short of remarkable. The most devoted Unioner wouldn’t believe you if you told them how their Bundesliga journey would unfold. Their reward? Trips to Naples and The Bernaubeau against Napoli and Real Madrid.
As they wait to dine at Europe’s top table, Union have again amicably added to their squad. The 2023 summer transfer window saw Germany international Robin Gosens arrive from Inter Milan, David Datro Fofana and Brenden Aaronson join on loan from Chelsea and Leeds, and Juventus and Italy legend Leonardo Bonucci take the trip to Köpenick.
We are yet to see how Union Berlin’s Champions League journey plays out. But, win, lose or draw, it’s guaranteed that Die Eisernen will enjoy every minute of it.
