Union separates from Fischer: the stylish end to a football fairy tale

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In the summer of 2018, Urs Fischer took over Union Berlin in eighth place after a disappointing season in the second division – and he fit the club like a glove. Modest, shirtless, focused. That is why the people of Köpenick immediately take him to their hearts. And of course also because it produces results. Under him, the Iron Men remained undefeated in the first seventeen games and the fans sang his praises after just a few games: “Urs Fischer – football god!”

“They sing that for everyone here!” Fischer said coolly when Blick visited him in Berlin after the winter break. He tried to curb the euphoria around the club a bit and wanted to keep the ball flat. “The goal is still the same as at the start of the season: to improve at the table and stabilize in terms of play,” he said. Nevertheless, he leads the Iron Men to the Bundesliga for the first time in the club’s history. “Fischer – football god!” – especially now. At the end of May 2019, Fischer and the entire club turned night into day in the “Alte Försterei” and celebrated the night away.

The climb is sensational, but only the beginning of the fairy tale. Considered by most experts to be the number 1 relegation candidate, Union manage to stay in the league with relative ease. 11th place – and 10 points ahead of the relegation place.

In October 2020, Union’s successful trainer even became a bestseller. Christoph Biermann accompanied Union for a year for “We will live forever”. Union is hip in Germany, and so is Fischer. And in terms of sports, it can only go one way: steeply up! 7th place and qualification for the Conference League in the second season in the House of Lords.

In the Berlin Zoo a red panda is called ‘Urs’

How much Urs Fischer is revered in Berlin will become clear in the autumn of 2021. When a red panda is born in the Berlin zoo, he is immediately named Urs. Not because of the Latin word ‘ursus’ (in German: ‘the bear’), but because of Urs Fischer. At the moment, he and his team are on track to surpass last season’s result. Ultimately we rise to 5th place and go to the Europa League. At the same time, their great rival Hertha Berlin is relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga – things couldn’t get better for the Union team! Everyone thinks. And everyone is wrong!

At the end of last season, only the three giants Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig were ahead of Fischer’s team. On to the premier league! “No Unioner would have ever dreamed of being able to hear the Champions League anthem,” enthuses Union legend Torsten Mattuschka. Union is placed in the group with Real Madrid, Napoli and Braga. Within five years, Fischer and his staff led Union Berlin from midfield in the 2nd Bundesliga to the absolute top of the world.

Stars for the premier class

This season it’s really happening. Big names such as Robin Gosens, Leonardo Bonucci, Kevin Volland and David Fofana must make the Union team “ready for the premier class”. Does not work! After two victories at the start of the Bundesliga and the interim leadership position, the fairy tale comes to an abrupt end. Union remains winless for fourteen games in a row and falls to last place in the Bundesliga. After the 4-0 defeat against Leverkusen, Fischer and Union jointly decided to end the relationship. The football fairy tale comes to an end on Tuesday.

Although there was no happy ending, Fischer does not leave as a loser. Absolutely not! He does it with style and humor. At the end of his farewell letter he writes: “Finally, a very big thank you to the fans.” With the word ‘Eventually’ he caused amusement in many places during his stay in Berlin.

Source : Blick