1. FC Union Berlin – The small club leaving a big mark on German football.
As the full-time whistle blew at Deutsche Bank Park today, 1. FC Union Berlin was subjected to their first defeat of the season, at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt.
Despite this, Die Eisernen (The Iron Ones) still find themselves top of the Bundesliga table after eight games.
With only goal difference separating them and their closest rivals, SC Freiburg. And two points ahead of German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
It was only three years ago that 1. FC Union Berlin was competing in the second tier of German football. Having won the 2018/19 2.Bundesliga, the East Berlin outfit was promoted to the top tier for the first time. So how have they continued their ascension in German football to the top?
Union Berlin appointed Urs Fischer as their manager in 2018, and the club hasn’t looked back since. With his meticulous defensive style, with a focus on counter-attacking football, Union Berlin has become one of the toughest teams to beat in Germany. This is especially true at home, where only Bayern and Dortmund could take all three points available at the Stadion An der Alten Fösteiri in the 2021/22 season.
Managing Director at 1. FC Union Berlin Christian Arbeit cites the support of the club’s fans as the catalyst for their rise.
Players tell him that the support they receive is “unusual.” With the crowd always on the side of the players, no matter what the score line is, the Union Berlin fans don’t start whistling and heckling as other Bundesliga club supporters would.
The persistent support has a positive effect on the team, clear through their 5th position finish last season, securing the club European football for the first time.
At the start of this season, Union Berlin lost their biggest goal threat Taiwo Awoniyi who left for the Premier League as one of Nottingham Forest’s numerous recruits.
Die Eisernan brought in American forward Jordan Pefok from Swiss side FC Young Boys who has three goals and two assists so far this season. Sheraldo Becker, another forward who has been at 1. FC Union Berlin since 2019, has been the main goal threat so far this season, with six goals already to his account.
He also provided the assist on all three of Pefok’s goals.
Union Berlin’s defence has always been their greatest attribute under Fischer and it has become even more of a tight ship so far this season.
With the addition of 23-year-old Diogo Leite on loan from Porto, the club has the third lowest shots allowed in Europe, with only Napoli and Athletic Bilbao allowing less.
Despite their first defeat of the season today, Union Berlin still finds themselves top of the Bundesliga after eight games.
Thanks to Bayern’s unusually slow start, and Borussia Dortmund’s stuttering, Union Berlin and Frieberg have been able to set the early pace.
Time will tell whether the league will revert to its seemingly natural order. The odds aren’t in the underdog’s favour, but it will only continue to be interesting to watch the longer they keep the giants at bay.
