Bundesliga
Union’s search for a coach: Wild Raúl rumor and new favorite
Raúl is currently coaching Real Madrid’s U23 team. photo
© Ina Fassbender/dpa
In the search for a coach at Union Berlin, rumors about world star Raúl are causing a stir. But another name comes into focus. The sporting glimmer of hope almost fades into the background.
The last beer to celebrate the late equalizer against Augsburg had not yet been drunk in Köpenick when the coaching question was raised 1. FC Union Berlin briefly outshone the name of world-class player Raúl. But on Sunday morning, Croatian Nenad Bjelica emerged as the favorite to succeed long-time successful coach Urs Fischer at the Bundesliga club, which is in danger of relegation.
The 52-year-old should sign his contract with the Eiserne soon, as the TV channel Sky reported. Italian transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio from Sky Sport Italia also made similar comments. However, an official confirmation is pending.
On Saturday evening, the “Kicker” reported that there were increasing signs that Raúl would be the new head coach. The Spanish sports newspaper “Marca”, which is usually well informed on topics relating to Real Madrid, immediately stepped on the brakes. “He’s at home,” wrote the paper, referring to Raúl’s favorite club, Real, where he won the Champions League three times as a striker from his own youth team and is coaching the second team this season.
Classic Union solution?
Bjelica would be a more classic Union solution: surprising, not a big name, but at first glance it makes sense. “Everyone who comes to the Alte Försterei knows what awaits them here. In the end it has to be a trainer who has authenticity, who has a clear path. Then we will come together,” said President Dirk Zingler on Sky about the Coach search.
Bjelica has no Bundesliga experience as a coach, but played as a midfielder for 1. FC Kaiserslautern from 2001 to 2004. He also played and coached in Austria for a long time, so he is familiar with the German language.
Like Fischer when he arrived in 2018, he is relatively unknown in Germany, but as a seasoned head coach he has already won titles in his home country. With Dinamo Zagreb, Bjelica became champions and cup winners, among other things. He also gained experience in the Champions League with the Croatians and Austria Vienna. The 52-year-old most recently worked for the Turkish first division club Trabzonspor until mid-October.
Volland scores for the first time
The first draw after nine league defeats in a row almost faded into the background after the rumors. In the emotional and heated game one after the end of the Urs Fischer era, Kevin Volland made the fans celebrate late with his first goal for Union. Under the interim coaching team of Marco Grote and Marie-Louise Eta, the Berliners have just improved offensively. But the uncertainties and individual failures of the past few months were still there. Union remained without a win in the 15th game in a row.
With their first Bundesliga point since August, the Eisernen left at least bottom of the table. “When you see when the equalizer comes, there is certainly a bit of relief,” said national player Robin Gosens, who caused the penalty to give the guests the lead in the first half with a risky tackle.
The time when an equalizing goal in the 88th minute can feel like a victory is nevertheless over in Köpenick. It’s a mix of feelings, said Volland. But the team and coaching staff tried to interpret the game as another small step in the right direction.
Difficult tasks await
“It’s about taking what came out of it at the end. But it’s also a lot about content. That’s something that will be important for the next few weeks,” said Grote. “The fact that you don’t go onto the pitch after the series and everything is blown away, you are suddenly completely free and can magic from one corner to the other. That’s the nature of things.” After the final whistle, he gave the team something to say in the circle on the pitch.
The Berliners want to take the next step in the Champions League game at SC Braga (9 p.m./DAZN) on Wednesday. The preliminary decision should be made there as to whether Union will slip into the Europa League as third in the group next year. Next Saturday we go to record champions Bayern Munich, where the next setback threatens – whoever sits on the Berlin bench.