In a stunning turn of events on Saturday evening, Union Berlin announced the immediate termination of head coach Steffen Baumgart. This decision came shortly after the team’s defeat to bottom-placed Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim. Despite Baumgart’s somewhat sharp post-match press conference, there had been no prior indications or rumors suggesting such a move.
Reasons Behind Baumgart’s Dismissal
The news was certainly unexpected. While it’s true that Baumgart’s Union has secured only two Bundesliga victories in 14 matches this calendar year, his knack for eliciting late goals from his “super subs” was a celebrated asset at the start of January. Baumgart’s tenure began the 2026 season with three draws, during which the head coach seemed adept at maximizing his players’ potential.
However, as the second half of the Bundesliga campaign, known as the “Rückrunde,” progressed, the Köpenick-based club exhibited several offensively weak performances, struggling to find the back of the net. Their only two victories during this period (against Freiburg and Leverkusen) were narrow 1-0 wins. Union has managed to score just nine goals in their 12 “Rückrunde” fixtures.
Despite these struggles, Baumgart’s Union has accumulated 33 points, which, statistically at least, should ensure safety from relegation. Therefore, the decision by FCU managing director Horst Heldt to part ways with Baumgart – whom Heldt had also previously hired to coach Köln in 2021 shortly before his own dismissal – remains a significant surprise.
Baumgart, along with his assistants Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna, has also been relieved of his duties. The pioneering female coach Marie Louise Eta will once again assume interim charge for Union’s remaining five league matches of the season.
Union Berlin’s Official Statement on Baumgart’s Sacking
“We have had an absolutely disappointing second half of the season so far, and we are not letting the standings blind us,” Heldt stated in the club’s official announcement. “Our situation remains precarious, and we urgently need points to secure our place in the league. The recent results leave us without the conviction that we can still turn things around with the current coaching team.”
English Translation:
In a shocking development on Saturday evening, Union Berlin has announced the immediate termination of head coach Steffen Baumgart. This decision came after the team’s loss to bottom-placed Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim on Saturday afternoon. Despite Baumgart’s somewhat sharp post-match press conference, there had been no prior rumors of any impending sacking.
Why did Union opt to sack Steffen Baumgart?
The news was certainly unexpected. While it is true that Baumgart’s Union has won only two of their 14 Bundesliga fixtures in the 2026 calendar year, Baumgart’s ability to extract late goals from his “super subs” was a celebrated aspect when the league resumed in January. Baumgart’s FCU began the 2026 year with three draws, during which the Union head coach appeared capable of bringing out the best in his players.
After the second half of the Bundesliga campaign (known in German as the “Rückrunde”) officially commenced, the Köpenick side delivered several offensively anemic performances where they struggled to score goals. Both victories (against Freiburg and Leverkusen) were achieved via narrow 1-0 wins. Union has scored only nine goals in their 12 “Rückrunde” fixtures.
Despite all this, Baumgart’s Union has still collected 33 points and, arithmetically at least, appears largely safe from relegation. The decision by FCU managing director Horst Heldt to part ways with Baumgart – whom he also hired to coach Köln in 2021 shortly before getting sacked himself – still counts as a major surprise.
Baumgart and his two assistants, Danilo de Souza and Kevin McKenna, have also been relieved of their duties. Trailblazing female coach Marie Louise Eta will once again take the reins for Union on an interim basis for the final five matchdays of the season.
Union Berlin’s statement on Baumgart’s sacking
“We’ve had an absolutely disappointing second half of the season so far, and we’re not letting the standings blind us,” Heldt noted in a club statement. “Our situation remains precarious, and we urgently need points to secure our place in the league. The recent results leave us without the conviction that we can still turn things around with the current coaching team.”
