Union Berlin have confirmed that manager Urs Fischer and assistant coach Markus Hoffman have signed contract extensions with the club. The duo led Union to promotion from 2. Bundesliga in their first season before securing an 11th placed finish in the clubs’ first-ever top-flight campaign.
Union Berlin Manager Urs Fischer Signs Contract Extension Along With Assistant, Markus Hoffman
Working Wonders at Union Berlin
Having arrived in the summer of 2018, the Swiss manager set about helping the club to promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time in its history.
After finishing third in 2. Bundesliga, Union drew 2-2 at Stuttgart in the first leg of the relegation playoff. His side saw out a nervy goalless draw in the second leg in Köpernick to secure promotion to the top flight at the first time of asking.
The clubs’ debut season in the Bundesliga was one of highs and lows. Avoiding the drop was the aim, but Die Eisernen did that and more. Wins over Borussia Dortmund and Hertha at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei got the club off to a good start. However, a reverse defeat in the Berlin Derby alongside a succession of losses saw the east Berlin side hovering above the bottom three.
But results came together and Union ended their maiden campaign in 11th, level on points with their city rivals.
Following a positive start to the new season, the club have acted and offered the duo new contracts. Die Eisernen sit sixth in the Bundesliga on 16 points and have suffered just two defeats from the opening ten games.
What Was Said
Speaking to the clubs’ official website, president Dirk Zingler said: “The decision to sign up Urs Fischer has proven to be absolutely right for 1. FC Union Berlin.
“Together with his team of coaches, he is making a decisive contribution to establishing Union in the Bundesliga and developing the club even further.
“We value Urs Fischer as a person who fits in wonderfully with Union and as an excellent coach with whom we would like to work together for a longer period of time. We are very pleased that this appreciation goes both ways and we were able to agree with him and Markus Hoffmann an extended partnership.”
Urs Fischer also spoke about his new deal. The 56-year-old added: “In recent years, we have experienced great things together here and celebrated successes. I have felt at home at Union from the very beginning and I still do so today.
“The daily work on the training pitch, together with the coaches and the whole team is incredibly fun, the whole atmosphere in the club allows for calm and concentrated work. I look forward to continuing this work here even longer.”
Oliver Ruhnert, Director of Professional Football at Union Berlin, added: “The relationship with Urs Fischer and his team is going as we wished and imagined when we signed him up back then.
“On and off the pitch he plays an enormously important role for us. He stands for meticulous work that has been successful for more than two years, so an extension is only a justified reward.”
Fischer’s Past Experience
Capped four times by Switzerland, the former defender made over 300 appearances for Zurich over two spells as a player.
He then managed the club for two years before spells at Thun and FC Basel, where he won the Swiss Super League in 2015/16 and league and Swiss Cup double the following season, alongside Hoffman.
Fischer took a year out of management before taking the role at Union where he has taken charge of 87 games.
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