MADRID, 15 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Swiss coach Urs Fischer has been dismissed this Wednesday as coach of the German FC Union Berlin “with immediate effect” and due to “the negative streak of recent weeks” going 14 games without winning, according to the club in a statement.
“FC Union Berlin and coach Urs Fischer are ending their collaboration with immediate effect. This joint decision was made by club president Dirk Zingler and the coach in a personal meeting on Monday afternoon,” the statement said. entity on its website.
Fischer took the reins of the Union Berlin bench in July 2018, when he began to write “a unique sporting success story” at the German club. In his first season, he achieved promotion to the Bundesliga and gave the team “confidence” in the following three campaigns in the German top flight.
Thus, it classified Union Berlin in seventh, fifth and fourth position, respectively, managing to play in the Conference League, Europa League and, this year, the Champions League for the first time in the history of the German club. In fact, it is a rival of Real Madrid in Group C, and will receive a visit from the Madrid fans on December 12.
However, the current dynamic of 14 games without a win (13D and 1D) has ended up condemning the Swiss coach, who led Union Berlin in 224 games. “Urs Fischer is an exceptional coach, and I remain absolutely convinced of this. His personality and his successful work have characterized our club in recent years and have opened up many new opportunities for us,” thanked club president Dirk Zingler.
“Over the five and a half years, we have developed a mutual respect and trust that has allowed us to exchange ideas openly and honestly at all times. Together we have come to the conclusion that the time has come to take a different path. It pains us not to having managed to break the negative streak of recent weeks. I feel grateful and proud. No matter how painful this breakup is, Fischer leaves as a friend who we will always welcome with open arms,” he added.
For his part, the Swiss coach acknowledged in the club’s statement that “the last few weeks have required a lot of strength.” “We have tried, the team has tried a lot, but it has not paid off in terms of results. I am very grateful for the confidence that I have always felt here. However, it seems good to make a change now: Sometimes, a different face, a different way of addressing a team helps evolution,” he declared.
In addition to Fischer, assistant coach Markus Hoffmann is also leaving the club. Thus, Union Berlin will be in the hands of the reserve team coach, Marco Grote, “interim until further notice.”