Bundesliga
Schuster as Streich’s successor? Typical for Freiburger Weg
Julian Schuster is considered the favorite to succeed Christian Streich. photo
© Patrick Seeger/dpa
Former captain Julian Schuster is considered the favorite to take over as coach at SC. It would be a decision that fits the club’s philosophy. The 38-year-old may lack experience, but he has other advantages.
“Of course I’m interested in coaching a team at some point,” said the former professional footballer Julian Schuster in an interview with the “Schwäbische Zeitung” published at the beginning of February. However, he has “no concrete plan” for this.
That may have changed now. According to media reports, Schuster is the favorite to succeed Christian Streich at SC Freiburg. The Baden Bundesliga club may announce the name of its new head coach this week.
Huge legacy
Schuster has no experience as a professional coach yet. There are a number of other things that speak for the ex-midfielder and long-time Freiburg captain. The 38-year-old holds the highest coaching license in German football. As a liaison between professionals and young talent, he has been close to the players for several years – and is already firmly integrated into the current coaching staff. Schuster knows the processes within the club and is highly valued by employees and fans.
Perhaps all of this would give him a certain amount of credit in the club’s environment. The legacy that the new coach will take on after the more than twelve-year and in many respects extraordinary Streich era is enormous.
Freiburg model
Promoting Schuster to head coach would also correspond to the typical Freiburg model. Streich, who coached the SC’s A youth team for years, once took a very similar path. The permeability from the youth to the professional sector has always been important to the people of Baden.
One of the more recent examples is Noah Atubolu. Instead of bringing in an established goalkeeper after the departure of Mark Flekken last summer, Freiburg switched the 21-year-old from the keeper of the third division team to that of the Bundesliga team.
Schuster once played together with important pillars of the Freiburg team such as captain Christian Günter and veteran Nicolas Höfler. He may lead them as head coach in the future.
Petersen praises Schuster
Former Freiburg striker Nils Petersen praises Schuster highly. “Even as a player, Julian Schuster was the longest extended arm of a coach I have ever seen,” said the 35-year-old to the German Press Agency about his former teammate.
When asked what a general internal solution would be for Christian Streich’s sought-after successor, Petersen replied: “It doesn’t hurt to have already been part of this special club. The SC stands for certain values, for a certain humility. And In the end, also for sporting quality. If a person in your own company embodies all of this, you probably don’t have to think too hard about it.”