Union Berlin has dismissed coach Bo Svensson and his staff following a disappointing stretch of nine games without a victory across all competitions.The Bundesliga club announced on Friday that a decision regarding a new head coach will be made in the coming days, with the new appointment expected to take effect on January 2.
Union’s struggles have been evident, as the team was eliminated from the German Cup and has not won since defeating promoted side Holstein Kiel in October. Under Svensson, who took charge last summer, the team has failed to secure a victory in their last eight Bundesliga matches, showing little improvement despite a promising start to the season.
“We’re convinced that a significant change is necessary to reverse the trend,” said Union sporting director Horst Heldt. “We have therefore decided not to continue our collaboration with Bo Svensson, Babak Keyhanfar, Kristoffer Wichmann, and Tijan Njie.”
Svensson’s tenure ended on a sour note with a 4-1 defeat to Werder Bremen on December 21. The club has struggled with coaching stability since the departure of fan-favorite Urs Fischer last season. Fischer led Union to Bundesliga promotion in 2019 and achieved progressively better finishes, culminating in a Champions League qualification in 2023. However, the influx of high-profile signings such as Leonardo Bonucci and Robin Gosens to meet the demands of European competition may have disrupted the team’s balance, and both players have since left the club.
Fischer was dismissed after a 14-game winless run, leading to Marco Grote’s interim appointment, followed by Croatian coach Nenad Bjelica, whose stint ended unhappily after a loss to relegation rival Bochum left the club precariously above the drop zone. Grote returned to guide Union to safety on the final day of the season.
Svensson was brought in with the hope of instilling the resilience that characterized Union’s previous success under Fischer. However, he ultimately fell short of those expectations.
Union’s next match is scheduled against Heidenheim after the winter break on January 11, followed by a home game against Augsburg. Both teams currently sit below Union in the league standings, which places the club in 12th position.
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