This is how the legend of Freiburg works: Man, Christian!

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Sometimes Christian Streich can look very bad with his sky blue eyes. For example, when he gets angry about Nazis and talks about tacheles. When he has to deal with bad decisions from the referee. Or with ignorant journalists.

As a football reporter, you are correspondingly tense for your first meeting with the coaching legend from Freiburg. After a test match against FC St.Gallen in the summer training camp, it was initially unclear whether the coach would be available at all after the match. But then all doubts disappear within seconds. The Freiburg coach takes his time and patiently answers all questions. Eloquent, pointed. As usual.

Became a football fan in Basel

Streich, who comes from Eimeldingen, a small village near the border, about ten kilometers from St. Jakob Park, has become a Basel football fan: “I was often jogging. With my father and my uncle. I saw Lauser, Odermatt and Demarmels, European Cup, NLA. As a boy I always watched the Swiss league on television. Saturday and Sunday.” Streich said that he rode from Kleinhüningen to Joggeli with the 14er Drämmli.

But he never ends up at FCB. The Spielvereinigung Märkt Eimeldingen is his first club, via FV Lörrach he went to Freiburger FC and from there, at the age of 20, to the Stuttgarter Kickers. But Streich does not feel comfortable in the hectic city. After two years we are returning to Breisgau, this time to SC Freiburg.

As an active player, the midfielder does not leave a huge footprint, but as a coach he will write club history. At the age of 30, he started with the youth team and has been on the sidelines as head coach since 2012. And he led his SC to the cup final as well as to international affairs. A remarkable achievement with limited resources.

Abrashi is enthusiastic about jokes

WG captain Amir Abrashi speaks of “the best coach I have had in my career.” And he still remembers his first meeting today: “We met at a gas station on the highway in Zurich. He was on holiday to Italy with his wife and son. A few days earlier, Freiburg was relegated from the Bundesliga. Streich seemed exhausted and the descent had left its mark.

But Abrashi was so enthusiastic about the move to SC Freiburg that he turned the coach’s light back on. “His wife told him she had no idea how well or how badly I would play, but that they had to sign me immediately. Because of my positive energy.”

Abrashi stayed in Freiburg for five and a half years. No Swiss knows better what drives the cult coach. “Not an easy coach,” was a joke. Because he demands a lot. “Once he folded me in front of the whole team. It was intense, but he knew I could handle it.” Because Streich had feeling for his players. “You could talk to him about anything.”

Also in the summer training camp after the friendly match against St.Gallen. When asked why so many clubs lose their nerve instead of sticking with relegation, as was the case in Freiburg, the 58-year-old replied: “Because the pressure is great. Not only the coaches are under pressure, but also the sports directors and chairmen. And they pass on the pressure, give in and fire the coach. And sometimes it doesn’t quite fit. It just works for us.”

Will business still be good after the coaching legend leaves? There’s a lot to be said for it. Because Strich leaves behind a stable club. And because Julian Schuster (38) has an internal solution available.

Source : Blick